House Republicans Pass Parents Bill of Rights; Democrats Question Real Impact

House Republicans are saying, ‘promise fulfilled’ after passing legislation Friday, the Parents Bill of Rights, which they say will give parents more say in their kids’ education while making schools more accountable and transparent.

Democrats say the bill should be called the 'Politics Over Parents Act', saying it would not meaningfully add to the rights parents already have and that Republicans' true aim is to use the bill to advance their political agenda and “continue to make classrooms Ground Zero for the MAGA culture wars.”

Republicans brush off such criticisms and ask how Democrats could be opposed to a bill that simply guarantees five basic rights for parents:

• Right to know what’s being taught in schools (including reading material)

• Right to be heard by school board

• Right to see school budget and spending

• Right to protect child’s privacy

• Right to be updated on any violent activity at school

More specifically, H.R. 5 would require that schools publicly post their curriculum, as well as a list of all books and other supplementary reading material in school libraries; school boards would be required to listen to parents’ concerns and schools would have to facilitate a minimum of two parent-teacher meetings a year. Additionally, schools would need to disclose their expenses and revenues, as well as inform parents of any violence at school or school-related events.

Prior to its narrow 213-208 passage in the House floor Friday morning, the bill was taken up by the Rules Committee, chaired by Oklahoma’s Tom Cole (R-OK4).

The bill, Cole said in his opening remarks, “values the fundamental role parents play in the upbringing of their children. With the passage of H.R.5, we will ensure that parental rights are protected, we will ensure that our classrooms are places of learning and growth, [and] that parents, families, educators, and administrators are all on the same page.”

Democrats at the hearing countered that the legislation would, in some cases, place burdensome and unreasonable requirements on school administrators and would bolster the flawed narrative that school board members and teachers oppose parental engagement.

"I can assure you," said Virginia Congressman Bobby Scott, "Democrats are not opposed to this -- in fact, in virtually every jurisdiction in this country, these so-called rights are present law, or at least general practice. In fact, we are wondering if our colleagues understand the very thing—this is what parents are already doing?"

Rules Committee Ranking Member Jim McGovern (D-MA) said it's ironic that the self-proclaimed party of limited government wants to nationalize the education system by politicizing the nation's classrooms.

"This bill is part of a nationwide MAGA march towards more censorship, more book bans, and more attempts to deprive our children of an accurate, fact-based education," Rep. McGovern stated.

Following Friday's vote, Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Republicans had fulfilled a promise made in last summer's Commitment to American to pass a parent's bill of rights.

"And what's very interesting is that the Democrats thought it was too extreme," Rep. McCarthy said, "that the Democrats believe that parents shouldn't have a say in their kids' education and to actually know what the reading material is. Democrats believe that was extreme."

And in a statement, Congresswoman Bice said, "This legislation empowers parents and allows them to have a greater say in the education of their children."

For all the talk on both sides about what the bill would or would not do, that is likely to remain speculation, as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has already said the bill will hit a dead end in the Senate.