Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) reintroduced H.R. 2616, the Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their (PROTECT) Kids Act. The PROTECT Kids Act is much-needed legislation that will prohibit any federally funded public elementary or middle school from changing a child’s name, pronoun, or access to facilities such as bathrooms or locker rooms, without parental consent.

“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,” said Chairman Walberg.

Specifically, H.R. 2616, the PROTECT Kids Act:  

• Empowers Parental Involvement. The PROTECT Kids Act emphasizes the fundamental role of parents in making sensitive decisions regarding their child's identity and accommodations in schools. 
• Protects Teachers’ Consciences. This bill helps prevent teachers from being pressured by administrators to keep secrets from their students’ parents. Teachers should be able to tell parents about important changes regarding their students.
• Responds to Urgent Needs. This legislation responds to recent developments, such as in California, where parental rights have been trampled on, reinforcing the critical need for parental engagement in their child’s education.

Background: Recently, there has been an increase in reports of schools keeping students’ gender transitions a secret. Parents Defending Education now reports that 21,000 schools covering over 12 million students have policies allowing or requiring district personnel to keep a student’s transgender status hidden from parents. In Fairfax County Public Schools, teachers were given training on how to help their students change their name and pronouns in school without parental notification. In states like California, laws are being passed to allow school districts to keep a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation from his or her parent. 
 

###