High Country Times

Today marks the reintroduction of the PROTECT Kids Act by Education and Workforce Committee Chair Tim Walberg, a Republican from Michigan. Officially known as H.R. 2616, the Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their Kids Act aims to ensure parental consent is obtained before any federally funded public elementary or middle school can change a child's name, pronoun, or access to facilities like bathrooms or locker rooms.

Chairman Walberg commented on the legislation, stating, "When parents are involved with their children’s education, students thrive both in and out of the classroom. It is shameful that many school districts cut parents out of important conversations regarding their child’s upbringing. This common-sense legislation protects a parent’s right to have access to information regarding his or her child’s school environment."

The bill outlines several key provisions: it empowers parental involvement by affirming the role parents play in decisions about their child's identity and accommodations in schools. It also seeks to protect teachers from pressure by administrators to hide significant changes regarding students from their parents. Furthermore, the proposed law addresses the issue of parental rights being overlooked, as seen in specific instances such as those in California.

The decision to revisit this legislation follows reports and findings from Parents Defending Education. The organization indicates that there are policies across 21,000 schools affecting over 12 million students that allow or require personnel to keep a student's transgender status confidential from their parents. An example cited involves Fairfax County Public Schools, where teachers received training on how to assist students in changing their name and pronouns without informing parents. Similarly, certain states, including California, have enacted laws permitting schools to withhold information about a student's gender identity or sexual orientation from their parents.