WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 25, 2023) – Education Reform Now (ERN) released the following statement in response to the passing of H.R.5, the Parents Bill of Rights Act:
“As a student-centered organization concerned over the continued and varied interruptions to students’ education and well-being, we are deeply disappointed that H.R.5 has passed the House. By calling itself the Parents Bill of Rights Act, the bill uses deceptive language to camouflage the fact that it isn’t about parents’ rights or even education, but rather a guise for Republicans’ continued attacks on civil rights.
At a time when our focus should be how on to best help students safely recover from pandemic-related learning loss, allowing distractions that will further exacerbate previous disruptions is a disservice to both students and parents alike, especially as we know that the proposed changes in the bill are not truly reflective of parents’ concerns. Moreover, H.R.5 would actually cut federal funding to schools that refuse to adopt the radical right’s extreme cultural agenda.
Rather than implementing unpopular and harmful book bans and changing school curricula, parents want policies that protect their children from violence at schools and ensure they are receiving adequate mental health support—issues that the Parents Bill of Rights Act does not recognize in any meaningful way. Instead of supporting legislation that sows fear and distrust in our classrooms, we urge leaders to address the real priorities of parents through policies that will promote school safety and help advance a high-quality education that meets all students’ academic, social, and emotional needs.”
##