Posted on 04/26/2005 5:10:12 PM PDT by hsmomx3
Parental Rights Vetoed
HB 2431, sponsored by Rep. Mark Anderson, would have required school boards to develop a list of specific parental rights enumerated in statute and then to provide that information to parents. School boards would also have been required to develop policies for parents to learn about school clubs and activities. Gov. Napolitano's veto message expressed general support for the notion of informing parents of their rights, but questioned the completeness of the list of rights in the bill. While we disagree with the veto, Gov. Napolitano has left the door open to producing a similar bill next session that she could support.
What this bill would have done:
PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Arizona's statutes empower parents and students with rights and responsibilities pertaining to the education of their children in the public schools. These enumerated statutory rights encourage and promote parental involvement in their children's education and school. Parents frequently do not know these rights or that the rights even exist. Additionally, many parents may not be aware of the full list of school-sponsored clubs offered to their children and sponsored by the school.
To better equip parents, school governing boards should implement procedures by which parents may learn about their rights and responsibilities as well as about the identification and mission of school sponsored clubs and activities.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RIGHTS?
These rights, all of which come directly from existing Arizona Title 15 education statutes or rules adopted by the State Board of Education, include the following.
* The right to receive parental involvement information – A.R.S. §15-102 * The right to receive special education services – A.R.S. §15-761 et seq. * The right to school report cards – A.R.S. §15-746 * The right to access official records – A.R.S. §15-102(B)(1)(a) * The right to English Immersion Waivers – A.R.S. §15-753 * The right to review textbooks and test results – A.R.S. §15-102(A)(2) * The right to inspect district policies and curriculum – A.R.S. §15102(B)(1)(b) * The right to opt-out of objectionable curricula and child immunizations requirements – A.R.S. §15-102(A)(3), and A.R.S. §15-872 * The right to access the state's failing schools tutoring fund – A.R.S. §15-241(Q) * The right to certain procedural protections in student disciplinary proceedings – A.R.S. §15-843
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES?
* A parent’s responsibility to ensure that their children attend daily * A parent’s responsibility to provide proof of immunization or an exemption as provided by law * A parent’s potential responsibility for any damage made to school property by their children * A parent’s responsibility to take an active role in their child’s education
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SCHOOL SPONSORED CLUBS?
* Key Club * Fellowship of Christian Athletes * Gay Lesbian Straight Alliance * Science Club
TALKING POINTS
No New Rights. Proposed legislation to inform parents about their rights does not create any new rights. It operates as a "pointer" to existing statutes and State Board of Education rules by establishing a centralized listing of parental rights and duties. Presently, statutory sections addressing the rights of parents are scattered throughout Title 15. By listing all current statutory sections granting parental rights in one place, parents could more easily access and understand their rights and responsibilities. Both parents and local districts would be aided in their understanding of existing statutory rights.
Local Control Maintained. Local school boards would be charged with the responsibility of creating the procedures necessary to inform parents of their rights and responsibilities.
No State Expenditures. The legislation has no impact on the state budget.
School sponsored clubs. Public high schools in Arizona have a growing number of school clubs that touch on issues regarding diversity and sexual orientation. Parents frequently may not be aware that these clubs exist. Since issues of liability could arise from these clubs, the schools would be well advised to at least communicate to parents the existence of all school sponsored clubs. The proposed legislation does not ban such clubs; it merely requires that parents be able to learn about clubs and activities that are school approved.
CONCLUSION
Passage of the parental rights legislation would encourage and promote parental involvement in the schools by parents with essential information regarding their children’s education. Parents would be better informed and more involved in the educational process.
You'd never know they work for us, would you?
The Government can try and even mean well but NO government agency will EVER dictate my parental rights and responsibilities.
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