The House passed legislation Wednesday requiring elementary and middle schools to obtain explicit parental consent before changing a student\u2019s pronouns or making other sex-based accommodations.<\/p>\n
In a 217-198 vote, the chamber approved the Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act, which would condition certain federal funding on schools complying with the policy.<\/p>\n
The measure was introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), chairman of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, in response to concerns from parents who said schools were not informing them about efforts by students to change their gender identity or pronoun usage, the New York Post reported.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor years, concerned parents have felt ignored as education bureaucrats push radical agendas in schools without their knowledge or input,\u201d Walberg said on the floor of the House in defense of the legislation.<\/p>\n
\u201cSchools are facilitating gender transitions or encouraging their students to change their names and pronouns without telling parents. These are enormously consequential decisions that have lasting impacts on a child\u2019s well-being and development,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cParents deserve to be part of those conversations,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
Several high-profile disputes have emerged recently involving school districts accused of helping students conceal their transgender status from parents, leading to multiple lawsuits nationwide.<\/p>\n
Last month, The Post reported on a lawsuit against a school district in Connecticut over a policy stating that schools \u201cshould not disclose information that may reveal a student\u2019s transgender status or gender nonconforming presentation to others, including parents\/families\/legal guardians.\u201d<\/p>\n
Under the House-passed legislation \u2014 also known as the PROTECT Kids Act \u2014 schools would be required to obtain parental consent before changing a student\u2019s gender markers in school records or allowing the student to use bathrooms or locker rooms designated for the opposite sex.<\/p>\n
Rep. Bobby Scott (D-Va.) opposed the bill on behalf of Democrats, claiming that it would violate laws preventing federal intervention in classroom curriculum.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis bill takes away state and local control of curriculum, the very thing that the current administration claims they\u2019re giving back to states by illegally dismantling the Department of Education,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cParental involvement is important, and I support that, and it works in virtually all cases,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut this bill is not about involvement, it\u2019s about federal coercion, forcing schools into a situation where they may have to disclose sensitive information about a student even when they know it could put that child\u2019s safety at risk,\u201d he claimed.<\/p>\n