Press Releases

Today, Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI) demanded answers from Chicago Public Schools (CPS) over policies that may keep parents in the dark about important decisions involving their children.
 
The Committee is investigating whether CPS policies comply with federal law and how those policies affect students and parents.
 
In the letter, Walberg writes: “Within this context, the Committee is reviewing how CPS policies affect the safety, privacy, and well-being of children, and whether parents are excluded from major decisions involving their children.”
 
The letter continues: “When asked by Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) at the June 10 hearing about CPS’ ‘socially transitioning children without parental knowledge or consent,’ you responded, ‘[w]e do not hide information from parents.’ However, several of CPS’s policies and resources suggest otherwise.”
 
Under CPS policies, schools can use a student’s preferred name and pronouns without parental consent and, in some cases, keep that information from parents. CPS also allows schools to create gender support plans for students without expressly requiring parents to be involved.
 
The letter concludes by asking CPS to turn over copies of parent and teacher complaints, guidance provided to schools, and staff training materials related to parental rights and gender policies.
 
Background
In July, the Committee advanced H.R. 4986, Parent’s Opt-in Protection Act, legislation authored by Rep. Mary Miller, which would strengthen parent and student consent requirements when schools seek sensitive information from students. In May, the House passed H.R. 2616, Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, legislation led by Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg and Rep. Burgess Owens (R-UT) to increase transparency in K-12 schools, strengthen parents’ rights, and ensure federal education dollars are not used to advance radical political or ideological agendas in the classroom.
 
Read Chairman Walberg’s letter to CPS here.