Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Three years ago, voters overwhelmingly signed onto Initiative 2081 to solidify a parent’s access to and oversight of their children’s educational records.
The “Parents’ Bill of Rights” was so popular that 454,372 registered voters signed on – about 130,000 more than necessary to put the measure on the ballot.
Liberal lawmakers saw the writing on the wall. And rather than let it go to a vote, the Legislature passed the initiative into law in March 2024, then “revised” it 2025.
But leftwing lawmakers kowtowing to the Washington Education Association teachers’ union didn’t just revise it. They neutered it.
Let’s just call the action what it is – a bait-and-switch.
So, it’s no surprise that parents – and registered voters – want the Parents’ Bill of Rights implemented as intended. As a result, Initiative 001 will be back before voters this year to restore the original version of the rights law.
Rather than be able to provide student records to families with 10 days, the Legislature gave schools 45 days. Rather than requiring parents to be notified of all medical and mental health services, the Legislature removed the notification requirement for “non-emergency” medical and mental health care.
The Legislature also expanded protections for so-called “protected classes,” but not all students, and for school employees who disagree with parents asserting their rights.
Let’s Go Washington, a lobbying group who led the Initiative 2081 effort, is back to force schools, employees and teacher unions to abide by the original bill of rights.
The new Initiative 001 amassed 418,666
signatures, more than 110,000 needed to make
this year’s ballot.
It’s clear that Washingtonians are fed up with the bait-and-switch effort that neutered the original law.
If approved, I-001 would again require schools to provide requesting parents their child’s records within 10 business days. Those records include academic records, medical and mental health information and documentation, as well as nearly all other records.
The new measure would require parents be notified of all medical or mental health information – including any discussions about gender
dysphoria and attempts to change names and
gender pronouns.
And it mandates opt-out rights for students and their families objecting to activities, assignments and courts on sexuality, morality, religion, political affiliations and mental health issue.
These rights should be no-brainers, as parents are responsible for raising their children.
School employees are hired for one purpose – provide the education in reading, writing, arithmetic and science needed to become successful contributors of our society.
It’s time to overturn the bait-and-switch tactic of lawmakers. It’s time to make sure parents – not schools – have the final say in what their child is exposed to and what they are raised to believe.
Vote yes for Initiative 001 in the Nov. 3 general election.
— Roger Harnack is the owner of Free Press Publishing. Email him at roger@cheneyfreepress.com.
Roger Harnack is the owner/publisher of Free Press Publishing. Having grown up Benton City, Roger is an award-winning journalist, photographer, editor and publisher. He's one of only two editorial/commentary writers from Washington state to ever receive the international Golden Quill. Roger is dedicated to the preservation of local media, and the voice it retains for Eastern Washington.
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