Parental Rights in Education
Procedures for Parents to Notify School of Concerns Relating to Parental Rights in Education
Parents or guardians have a right to raise concerns regarding a school’s compliance with HB 1557 - Parental Rights in Education. The following is a
summary of the concerns that may be raised under the Parental Rights in Education (F.S. 1001.42 (8)(c) but the entire bill can be found
at: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/BillText/er/PDF
- The required notice regarding a change in the student's services or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the school's ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student.
- The requirement for School District personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues related to their well-being with their parent(s).
- The prohibition against School District personnel prohibiting or discouraging parental notification of and involvement in critical decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being.
- The prohibition of classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, or in other grades in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate, in accordance with State standards.
- The requirement that student support services training adhere to student services guidelines, standards, and frameworks established by the Florida Department of Education.
- The requirement that, at the beginning of each school year, the District notify parents of each healthcare service offered at their child's school and of the option to withhold consent or decline any specific service.
- The requirement that the District provide a copy of a well-being questionnaire or health screening form to the parent and obtain the permission of the parent before administering the questionnaire or health screening form to a student in kindergarten through grade 8.
The procedures to raise concerns related to HB 1557 - Parental Rights in Education does not include
the review of instructional materials. Parents/Guardians or residents with objections to existing instructional materials should
access Media Services webpage for additional information about the process to file a review of instructional materials.
Raising a Parent Concern
Submit a Concern to a School
In order to raise a concern about any of the issues listed above, the parent or guardian must first summarize the nature of the concern in writing specifically describing the factual issues using the following Parent Concern Link.
The school’s principal then has seven (7) calendar days to resolve the concern. Upon receipt of a concern from a parent/ guardian, the principal shall conduct a review of the concern and attempt to resolve the concern. If the concern is not resolved, then within 30 days of the principal’s notification of the concern, the school must provide a written statement to the parent/ guardian(s)setting forth the reasons for not resolving the concern(s).
In order to raise a concern about any of the issues listed above, the parent or guardian must first summarize the nature of the concern in writing specifically describing the factual issues using the following Parent Concern Link.
The school’s principal then has seven (7) calendar days to resolve the concern. Upon receipt of a concern from a parent/ guardian, the principal shall conduct a review of the concern and attempt to resolve the concern. If the concern is not resolved, then within 30 days of the principal’s notification of the concern, the school must provide a written statement to the parent/ guardian(s)setting forth the reasons for not resolving the concern(s).
Submit an Unresolved Concern after 30 days
If a parental complaint involving certain types of disputes is not resolved within 30 days after notification by the parent that the concern remains unresolved, the school district must either resolve the concern or provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving the concern. Submit Unresolved Concern Link If a concern is not resolved by the school district, a parent may, among other things, request the Commissioner of Education to appoint a special magistrate who consider information provided regarding the concern and render a recommended decision for resolution to the State Board of Education. Additional information can be found at: https://www.fldoe.org/schools/k-12-public-schools/special-magistrate/
If a parental complaint involving certain types of disputes is not resolved within 30 days after notification by the parent that the concern remains unresolved, the school district must either resolve the concern or provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving the concern. Submit Unresolved Concern Link If a concern is not resolved by the school district, a parent may, among other things, request the Commissioner of Education to appoint a special magistrate who consider information provided regarding the concern and render a recommended decision for resolution to the State Board of Education. Additional information can be found at: https://www.fldoe.org/schools/k-12-public-schools/special-magistrate/