Press Releases

Contact: Abby Mitch

Congressman John James voted in support of HR 5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would enshrine additional transparency requirements for public school districts while expanding parent-child privacy protections. 

The legislation follows through on one pillar of our Commitment to America. Education is a basic civil right and the relationship between a parent and their child is sacred. 

“There should be no secrets between students and teachers. No hiding curriculum from public review. Parents have every right to know what they’re learning in the classroom," said James. "The Parents Bill of Rights simply encourages an effective partnership between parents and educators to work together at the local level. It is my hope that with the fundamentals ironed out, we can move forward with equipping our schools, supporting educators, and preparing our students with the marketable skills to succeed and critically think."

Congressman James is a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. He led two amendments that were included in the final bill passed by the House of Representatives. One amendment protects parents’ right to review their child’s curriculum without having to sign a nondisclosure agreement. This amendment also applies to library and online resources. The second affirms a parent’s right to be made aware of any issues at school that concern a child’s mental and physical health and safety.

HR 5 can be viewed here. The House of Representatives passed the bill 213 to 208. 

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