This week, the U.S. House of Representatives will debate and vote on H.R. 5, the Parents Bill of Rights. H.R. 5 has the potential to cause significant harm to children & families by:
- Preventing mental health support for students in need;
- Limiting access to learning-enhancing technology & educational materials;
- Leading to inappropriate and harmful book bans & curriculum censorship;
- Creating confusion for school staff & burdensome opt-in requirements for families;
- Impairing relationships between educators & parents; and
- Undermining efforts to create safe, welcoming, supportive, and inclusive learning environments for all students and families.
Representative Suzanne Bonamici, National PTA’s 2023 Congressional Voice for Children Awardee, will be offering a Substitute Amendment that PTA supported the development of and would serve to replace the existing legislation, if adopted, but we need your help!
Contact your Representatives today to support adoption of the Bonamici Substitute Amendment to replace the current Parents Bill of Rights Act (H.R. 5) and ensure effective family-school partnerships are supported in all school communities.
Representative Bonamici's Substitute Amendment provides for meaningful and inclusive family engagement in K-12 education and would make critically needed improvements to H.R. 5, including creating a parent coordinator position in public schools, reinforcing existing parents’ rights under federal law, prohibiting the federal government from curriculum censorship and banning books, and investing in full-service community schools and Statewide Family Engagement Centers.
Founded in 1901, Ohio PTA is the oldest and largest volunteer organization in the State of Ohio focusing on the health, welfare, safety, and education of children and youth.