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Bill

SB 948

Relating to play-based education.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lew Frederick and 1 co-sponsor

Requires every county board to enact a parental-involvement policy granting parents access to curricula and materials, opt-out/consent rights, and a formal complaint process.

In committee upon adjournment.
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Bill Summary · SB 948

SB 948 — Children: Parental Rights — Educational Rights

Status: Hearing scheduled 3/07 at 9:00 a.m. (Introduced Jan. 27–28, 2025)
Primary subject: Parental involvement and rights in K–12 public education

Purpose / Intent

Require each county board of education to adopt and implement a written policy that promotes parental involvement in students’ education, establishes procedures for parental access to instructional materials and records, creates opt‑out and consent processes for certain instruction and activities, and provides an administrative complaint and appeal process with a limited right to judicial review.

Key provisions

  • Policy development:

    • Each county board, in consultation with parents, teachers, and school personnel, must develop and implement a parental‑involvement policy.
    • Policy must include a plan to increase parent participation and improve parent–teacher cooperation on homework, attendance, and discipline.

  • Access to curricula and materials:

    • Parents may review, examine, copy, or record curricula, instructional materials, and teacher training materials used for their child.
    • Materials must be made available via (a) publication on a publicly available website, or (b) written copy provided on request (at cost).

  • Notice, consent, and opt‑out:

    • Schools must give at least 5 days’ notice and obtain parental consent before planned instruction/presentations on family life or human sexuality.
    • Parents may object to and withdraw their child from any school club/extracurricular activity, any classroom instructional unit, presentation, or school assembly.
    • Policy requires parental consent before a student is permitted to use gender pronouns that do not match the student’s biological sex.

  • Records and information:

    • Parents have access to written and electronic records concerning their student that are controlled by the school, county board, or contracted service providers.
    • Teachers and school personnel are prohibited from withholding or concealing information from parents, including curricular/extracurricular work and information about a student’s physical, emotional, or mental health.

  • Complaint, appeal, and judicial relief:

    • Parents may file a written complaint for policy violations.
    • Superintendent must investigate and respond in writing within 14 days.
    • Parent may appeal to the county board within 30 days; the board appoints a committee that must publish findings and recommendations within 30 days; the board’s decision is final.
    • After exhausting administrative remedies, a parent may sue the county board in an appropriate court; courts may grant appropriate relief.

Who is affected

  • County boards of education and superintendents (policy creation, complaint handling)
  • Schools, principals, teachers, and contracted service providers (material access, disclosure requirements)
  • Parents and students (expanded access, opt‑out/consent rights)
  • Local governments (administrative and potential litigation responsibilities)

Timeline and fiscal impact

  • Bill text sets effective date: July 1, 2025.
  • Fiscal note: local school system expenditures will likely increase (potentially materially) to implement the policies, provide requested materials, handle increased administrative workload and complaints, and possibly hire additional staff or legal counsel. State court caseload impacts expected to be minimal and manageable with existing resources.

Practical implications / considerations

  • Schools must establish processes for making materials available online or as physical copies and document consent/opt‑out decisions.
  • Increased parental access and formal complaint channels raise administrative, record‑management, and privacy considerations (especially regarding student health records and third‑party contractors).
  • Local boards should plan for staffing, record‑keeping, and legal support to implement and defend policy decisions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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