Pre-Session Preview Part 1: Parental Rights and Education
During Governor Northam’s speech to the Joint Money Committees last month, he suggested that “the country is once again turning to Virginia for leadership.” We assume he wasn’t referencing the recent conservative sweep in November’s election. Nevertheless, the 2022 General Assembly Session promises to look and feel a lot different when it convenes on January 12th. Next week, Republicans will assume the majority in the House of Delegates and Glenn Youngkin takes the oath of office to become the 74th Governor of Virginia.
This year we are going to work hard to champion legislation that aligns with our Vision for Virginia that emphasizes foundational principles like religious freedom, individual liberty, and limited government.
Still, any expectations will have to be tempered in light of the fact that the Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate. But no matter who’s in office, we will be here fighting with the same zeal to promote policies that strengthen families, support parents, protect the pre-born and their mothers, guard our religious liberties, and limit the size and scope of government.
In this first part of a three-part Pre-Session email series, we highlight some areas we anticipate seeing legislation that strengthen parental rights and expand education options.
Ever since public schools went to remote learning in the Spring of 2020 from the COVID shutdowns, many of which remained virtual through 2021, parents have been outraged over the condition of our public schools. In fact, the past two years gave parents a rare glimpse into what’s actually being taught to their children, including “woke” ideological curriculum, inappropriate surveys, and graphic materials presented in the classroom. Parents have also seen their rights undermined by school boards seeking to implement policies that jeopardize the bodily privacy and safety of their children, and permit schools to withhold information from them.
Parental rights was a major issue during the 2021 elections, so we expect to see legislative proposals aimed at strengthening parental authority and expanding education choice. Here’s a few we’re anticipating:
Prohibit Critical Race Theory from being taught in K-12 public schools, and allow parents to review and opt-out of lessons that include sexualized content;
Require parental consent before the Department of Health contacts a minor about subjects related to sex;
Restructure Family Life Education (i.e., Sex Education) to be like an elective in which parents must give permission for their child to participate in an FLE program;
Clarify that the Model Policies for the Treatment of Transgender Students is not mandatory, as determined by the Lynchburg circuit court;
Penalize school districts that do not comply with state law that requires parents be notified before a survey is administered to their child;
Expand the Education Improvement Tax Credits Program created to provide low-income families the opportunity to find affordable private education for their child; and
Create Education Savings Accounts to allow families to direct state funds to the education institution of their choice.
The 2021 gubernatorial race showcased parental rights as the primary campaign issue, but it was the months of school board battles and the terrible policies of 2020 and 2021 that mobilized parents across Virginia. This session could show whether legislators heard their concerns and are ready to act. We intend to see that they do.
