Parental Rights

Fighting for transparency in schools
& protecting our kids from extreme ideologies!

AFL: The AFL Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment: A Toolkit for Parents

Template Letter:

[DATE]

[NAME]

[TITLE]

[ADDRESS]

Dear [School Official]:

I write in my capacity as the [parent/[legal guardian] of [insert child’s full name], who is a student in the [grade level] grade at [insert name of school]. In the exercise of my rights under the United States Constitution and federal law, including the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, as well as State constitutional, statutory, and regulatory rights, please be on notice that:

I hereby demand prompt access and a reasonable time to review the following: (a) all instructional materials used as part of my child’s [specify grade or subject] educational curriculum; (b) all teacher’s manuals; and (c) all teacher training lectures and materials, tapes, power point programs, or similar supplementary material, viewed or used by or given to my child’s teacher between January 1, 2022, and the present. Please let me know within five (5) business days when and where these materials will be made available to me for my review.
I demand reasonable prior notice of, the right to inspect, and a meaningful opportunity to either consent or opt out of any formal or informal survey or other information collection containing or regarding one or more of the following items: (a) political affiliations or beliefs of my child or my family; (b) mental or psychological problems of my child or our family; (c) sex behavior or attitudes (e.g. preferred pronouns and/or “gender identity”); (d) illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior (e.g., “white privilege” and/or “systemic racism”); (e) critical appraisals of other individuals with whom my child has close family relationships; (f) legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers; (g) religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of my child or our family; and (h) income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program). Moreover, please be advised that absent my specific and express written consent to a specific survey or information collection, this letter serves as written notice that I do not consent to you administering and/or sharing any such survey or information collection with my child, and under no circumstances shall my child be asked or required to submit to any such survey or information request, whether formal or informal, from a teacher, administrator, counselor, or any third party.
This shall also serve to make clear that without my prior written consent, under no circumstances shall my child be required or allowed to be subject to physical, psychiatric, or psychological examination, testing, or treatment as defined at 34 CFR § 98.4(c).
This shall additionally serve to make clear that without my prior written consent, under no circumstances shall my child be subjected to the planned, systematic use of methods or techniques that are not directly related to academic instruction and that are designed to affect my child’s behavioral, emotional, or attitudinal characteristics. Such methods and techniques include, by way of example only, “social emotional learning” or “SEL”, “anti-racist” pedagogy, and “Critical Race Theory” or “CRT” related methods, techniques, and/or curriculum.
Without my prior written consent, under no circumstances shall my child be referred or provided access to any third-party “mental health” counselor or abortion provider.
Under no circumstances may you conceal from me any of the following with respect to my child: (a) illegal drug use: (b) pregnancy; (c) sexual or other physical assault; (d) matters related to gender identity and gender dysphoria (e.g., transgender claims, changed pronouns); (f) body dysphoria including but not limited to anorexia or bulimia; (h) prescription drug abuse.

Please be advised that I am prepared to pursue all potential actions, remedies, statutory, regulatory, and in tort, in the event the [school or district] fails to comply with this letter or otherwise does not respect my legal rights regarding my child. I look forward to your prompt confirmation of receipt and your full compliance with the terms of this letter.

Sincerely,______________________________________________________________________

Albuquerque Education Board Proposed Policy Change

Proposed NEW APS Board Policy

KB1 Parent Rights and Responsibilities

The Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) Board of Education believes that the success of a child’s education is the result of a collaborative effort among parents, students, and the school. APS recognizes parents as valued partners in the educational process and will incorporate parent/guardian and family involvement as a district core value. APS Board of Education policy, goals and core values recognize that parents have rights. APS also believes that active and regular parent/guardian involvement will significantly increase a student’s potential for academic success.

Therefore, APS recognizes parents as valued partners in the educational process and

incorporates parent/guardian involvement as a district core value. All school and district

activities will give proper consideration to the involvement of parents.

Participants in the educational process deserve respectful and courteous treatment at all times. Schools reflect the richness and diversity of Albuquerque, and the district prohibits harassment and hostile environments of any kind, because students have the right to an education free of discrimination.

PHILOSOPHY OF PARENT/GUARDIAN RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As full partners in a child’s education, parents/guardians have rights and responsibilities. It is the objective of APS to list and communicate these rights and responsibilities in a format that is convenient and accessible for parents.

PARENT RIGHTS

Parents, in their relationships with schools, have the right:

To a school environment for their child that is safe and supportive of learning
To be treated with courtesy by all staff
To be included as full partners in the educational process and to have access to the

system on their child’s behalf

To a mutually supportive and respectful partnership with the school
To expect school outreach ensuring all families have opportunities to participate,

including those for whom English is not their primary language

To opportunities for families to participate in the instructional process, particularly by

engaging in school scheduled events and established structures like Parent Teacher

Association groups and Instructional Councils

Parents, in order to support high academic achievement for their children, have the right:

To examine their child’s curriculum materials
To expect qualified teachers who follow the code of conduct
To expect textbooks, materials, and supplies that reinforce learning
To expect an instructional program that recognizes individual learning styles
To receive assistance from school personnel to further their child’s progress and

improvement

To expect their child receives a full day of education or instruction (as legally defined)
To have access to school performance data

Parents, in order to be knowledgeable about their children’s educational experience, have the

right:

To receive information concerning the academic performance standards, proficiencies or

skills their child is expected to accomplish

To be informed in advance about school rules, school calendars, activities, attendance

policies, dress codes, and procedures for visiting the school

To visit their child’s classrooms
To have access to all educational records of a school district concerning their child in

accordance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This includes,

but is not limited to, transcripts, attendance, test scores, grades, disciplinary records,

Individualized Education Plans (IEP’s), 504 plans, educational and/or social support

plans, school counseling records, and school health records

To question anything in their child’s records that they believe is inaccurate or misleading

or is an invasion of privacy

To receive prompt responses to inquiries
To be notified on a timely basis of their child’s absence from school
To be notified promptly about disciplinary action against their child
To be included in any educational and/or social support plans
To be informed of their child’s progress in school and of the appropriate school

personnel they should contact if problems arise

To receive information about and to agree or deny permission concerning psychological

testing involving their child

To be informed of processes to address parent/guardian concerns or available grievance

procedures

To confer with their child’s teacher

PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES

Parents, in their relationships with schools, have the responsibility

To treat school personnel with courtesy and as partners in their child’s education
To support school, district, and classroom rules for student behavior and ensure that

their child conduct themselves according to district standards

To participate in decisions related to the child’s education
To instill in their child self-discipline and courtesy toward others
To adhere to school rules and procedures
To instill in their child a respect for teachers and authority
To teach their child to take care of school materials and facilities

Parents, in order to support high academic achievement for their children, have the

responsibility:

To ensure that their child attends school every day
To send students to school on time and prepared to learn
To be informed of, acknowledge, and understand the rules applicable to their child’s

school