HCSHB1858--PARENTSBILLOFRIGHTS
SPONSOR: Baker
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPasswithHCS"bytheStanding
CommitteeonElementaryandSecondaryEducationbyavoteof15to
6.
ThefollowingisasummaryoftheHouseCommitteeSubstituteforHB
1858.
Thisbillcreatesthe"Parents'BillofRightsActof2022"and
providesalistofrightsthatparentsmayrequireschooldistricts
thatreceivefederalorstatemoneytofollow.Rightslistedin
thebillincludebutarenotlimitedto:
(1)Therighttoreviewcurricula,books,andinstructional
materials;
(2)Therighttovisitschoolduringschoolhourswith
restrictions;and
(3)Therighttohavesufficientaccountability andtransparency
regardingschoolboards.
Schooldistrictrestrictionsarealsooutlinedinthebilland
include:
(1)Limitsonnondisclosureagreementstoreviewcurriculumor
forIEPmeetingsandcertainothermeetingandhearingsspecified
inthebill;
(2)Allowingastudentinvolvementinschoolassemblies,field
trips,orotherextracurricular activitieswithoutwritten
authorizationfromtheparent;
(3)Biometricdatacollection;and
(4)Publicmeetingrequirementsthatallowpubliccomment.
Eachschooldistrictandpublicschoolmustnotifyparentsofall
reportedincidentspertainingtostudentsafetyincluding,butnot
limitedto,anyfelonyormisdemeanorcommittedbyteachersor
otherschoolemployees.
Eachschoolboardshalladoptpoliciesthatwillensure
accountability andtransparencyforparentsinthedistrictas
outlinedinthebill. Thebillprovidesdetailsoncivilactionsthatmaybetaken
againstaschooldistrictandprovidesthatwithholdingsfromstate
fundingmayoccurfornoncompliance.
Thefollowingisasummaryofthepublictestimonyfromthe
committeehearing. Thetestimonywasbasedontheintroduced
versionofthebill.
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthisbillspecificallytargetsthe
districtsthatarenotfollowingthelawandarerestricting
parentsfromengagingintheirstudent'slearning. Thereare
multipleexamplesofdistrictsthatarepreventingparentsfrom
seeingwhatisbeingtaught,restrictingaccesstostudents,and
puttinghurdlesinfrontofparents. Thisbillprovidesacourse
ofactionforparentstotakewhentheyfeelthatadistrictisnot
followingthelawordoingwhatisinthebesteducationalinterest
ofthestudent.
TestifyingforthebillwereRepresentative Baker;Johanna
Beaudean;JulieStanbrough;MarisaHagler;MichelleNovara;Renee
Smola;SvetlanaRuscheva;WendyMelrose;EimeeCook;Johanna
Beaudean;Wayne&JennellHouts;LindiWilliford;Stephanie
Diestelkamp;ArnieC.AcDienoff;NaomiEBaker;andFamiliesFor
HomeEducation,Inc..
OPPONENTS: Thosewhoopposethebillsaythatthisbillduplicates
manyoftherequirementsforschoolsalready,andthatitwilltie
thehandsofqualifiedandtrainededucators. Thisbillwillhave
unintendedconsequencesandwillcreateanincreaseinthenumber
ofteachersthatarequittingtheprofession.
TestifyingagainstthebillwereAmySchaefer;BarbaraRoss;Brandi
Koziatek;CarlaWiese,MissouriPTA;DorothyHatch;ElisaNeilson;
JenniferPressy;JoyWeeseMoll;JulieAllen;LauraHorwitz;Linda
K.Smith;ProChoiceMissouri;MaryEllenZerr;NancyPrice;Pam
Hopkins;SloanSheffieldCowell;StephanieWiegers;SusanGibson;
SusanRandolph;SusanShumway;AngelaLBoyle;ArthurLMaxwell;
BeverlyPrice;CarolynRandazzo;DeannaWarden;EimeeCook;Erin
Yauch;JenniferMain;KathyNeely;MeganVonArb;MichelleMorgan;
NamitaAtalParanjothi;NamitaAtalParanjothi;PattyFisher;Sarah
Wright;MissouriAssociationofSchoolAdministrators; Susan
Tiffany;SuzanneWhitman;TimMobley;MissouriEquityEducation
Partnership;AnthonyDecarli;ChrisSprague;JessieResimius;
JessieResimius;MarissaPolzin;MarissaPolzin;ThomasRPtacek;
ThomasRPtacek;ChloeTelle;ChristineBrown;CynthiaGardner;
JodiMMain;MissouriNEA;NAACPMoStateConference;Shirley
Seabaugh;Julie;ShirleySeabaugh;SuzanneMcginnis;andDava-Leigh
Brush. Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonycanbefoundunderTestimonyonthebillpageon
theHousewebsite.