Bill would ban schools from keeping students' secrets from parents

The North Carolina House on Wednesday considered a "Parents' Bill of Rights" similar to one passed by the Senate last spring.

The bill would ban discussions of sexual orientation or gender identity in public schools, from kindergarten to fourth grade, and it would ban teachers and staff from keeping a student's secrets from parents.

The House education committee discussed the bill without taking any public comment. It is expected to pass the House next week and, because Republicans backing the bill hold a veto-proof majority, is likely to become law.

Sen. Amy Galey (R-Alamance) said she wrote the bill because she heard from parents having a hard time getting schools to give them information about their children and what the students are learning.

The bill would require public schools to get parental permission for everything from anonymous student surveys to counseling appointments. And it would allow parents to complain to the state if they feel schools aren’t obeying the law.

It also requires schools to notify parents if a child wants to use a different name or pronouns and would forbid school personnel from keeping anything confidential from parents, even at the student’s request.

Opponents of the bill say students questioning their sexuality or gender identity often confide in teachers or counselors at school before talking to their families.

Opponents of the bill say children, in particular those who are questioning their gender identity, might feel less safe.

"This is going to basically discourage them from disclosing that need for help," said Rep. Julie vonHaefen (D-Wake).

The bill's sponsor, Galey, says those discussions belong at home. "The public school unit shall not adopt procedures that will prohibit school employees from notifying a parent about their child's mental emotional or physical health or well being," she said.

Rep. Brian Biggs (R-Randolph) said home schooling during the pandemic raised questions for families in his district.

"I think parents are to be raising kids, and parents are teaching morals, and parents are the ones that have to be given the guidance, not someone at the schoolhouse," he said.

Republican leaders did not allow any public comment during Wednesday's committee hearing, but afterward, Renee Sekel said the bill could put vulnerable kids at risk at home.

"It will force teachers to out kids’ personal sensitive information to parents who may not have their best interests at heart," she said.