In response to Governor Ron DeSantis signing the Parental Rights in Education Bill (HB 1557), Ashley Hayek, Executive Director of America First Works, and Scott Turner, former Texas State Representative who played in the NFL and Chairman of the Center for Education Opportunity at the America First Policy Institute, made the following statements.
“This bill, supported by America First Works, will finally put guardrails to prevent politicians from cutting Florida’s parents from the classroom,” said Hayek. “The classroom is no place for dark curricula or experimental politics. Florida is leading the charge in making our Nation’s classrooms safe and protecting the sacred rights of parents. Thank you, Governor DeSantis and leaders in the Florida Legislature, for putting our children first.”
“I congratulate Florida leaders on the passage of HB 1557,” said Turner. “The Parental Rights in Education bill ensures kindergartners will not be taught gender ideology and empowers parents to be involved in their child’s emotional and physical health. This bill creates greater transparency, protects children from topics that are not age-appropriate, recognizes the well-being of children and the right of their parents to raise and teach them, and stands up to radical out-of-state interest groups.”
Background: House Bill 1557, by Florida Representative Joe Harding (FL-22), empowers parents and ensures schools remain transparent in their curriculum and acknowledges that a child’s parent — not a school district employee — understands what’s best for their child and must be afforded the fundamental and constitutional right to determine their child’s upbringing.
America First Works supported HB 1557 as the legislation:
- Sets standards for school boards to notify parents if a change occurs in their child’s services or the monitoring of their mental, emotional, or physical health.
- Requires school boards to have procedures in place to notify parents if there is a change in the school’s ability to provide a learning environment that is both safe and supportive.
- Requires school employees to encourage students to discuss serious or sensitive issues with their parents.
- Ensures parental access to their children’s school records.
- Enables a parent to sue if the school district violates the law.
- Prohibits school districts from encouraging classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.
There are horror stories across the Nation about school districts refusing to be transparent in their curriculum or disclosing student records to parents. Thankfully, the Florida Legislature is determined to put Florida’s parents first and recognizes that a child’s upbringing is one of the most sacred responsibilities of a parent.
Read more about House Bill 1557 here.