2023: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Replaced The Parents Bill Of Rights Act With Language That Outlined Current Parental Rights And Declared That Students Deserved Fair, Equitable And High-Quality Education That Were Free From Censorship And Discrimination. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would "replace the text of the bill with congressional findings language that outlines the rights parents have under current law with respect to their children's education. It also would add language to express the sense of Congress that students deserve 'a fair, equitable and high-quality education' that is free from censorship and in a learning environment free from discrimination." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 203 to 223. [House Vote 150, 3/23/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 115]
2023: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Have Required Title I And Title II Schools To Hold Annual Open Enrollment Periods To Allow Students To Apply To Other Schools. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would "require Title I and II local education agencies to hold annual open enrollment periods during which students may apply to attend other schools served by the agency, including if they live outside the geographic region served by those schools. It would require agencies to consider and approve or disapprove such applications 'within a reasonable time.'" The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 89 to 338. [House Vote 152, 3/23/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 117]
2023: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Established Parental Notification Of Non-Curriculum Celebratory Initiatives Or Events And Required Parental Consent For Their Children To Participate In Such Events. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would "require schools to inform parents of any non-curriculum-based celebratory initiatives or events organized by the school for students, other than those related to birthdays or federal holidays and provide notice that parents must grant written or electronic permission for their child to participate in or attend such events." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 107 to 317. [House Vote 157, 3/24/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 126]
2023: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Removed Provisions That Required Schools To Allow Parents To Review Teacher Professional Development Materials At Their Children's School. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would "strike provisions requiring schools to allow parents to review teacher professional development materials at their child's school." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 203 to 217. [House Vote 155, 3/24/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 122]
2023: Schweikert Voted For The Parents Bill Of Rights Act, Which Would Require Schools That Receive Federal Funding To Obtain Parental Consent Before Conducting Non-Emergency Medical Exams Or Changing A Student's Gender Markers, Allow Parents To Inspect Instructional Materials, And Require Schools To Report To Parents If Their Child Goes By Different Pronouns Or Names. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would "establish various requirements for public elementary and secondary schools to provide parents with information and certain rights regarding their children's education. It would generally require schools that receive federal funding to obtain parental consent before providing a non-emergency medical screening or examination or before changing a child's gender markers or sex-based accommodations. It would require schools to allow parents to inspect and provide feedback on all instructional and reading materials used in evaluations or available to students through school libraries, as well as professional development materials for teachers. It would prohibit schools from acting as agents of parents to consent to the use of online technology or the administration of vaccinations, and from selling student information for commercial gain. To increase transparency at Title I schools, the bill would generally require school districts to publicly disseminate curricula for each grade, as well as notices of any changes to the state's academic standards; include detailed budget information for each school in their annual report cards; and allow parents to meet with teachers at least twice a year, address the school board and review professional development materials. It would require local educational agencies to ensure that Title I schools provide and inform parents of their rights to receive information regarding their child's education, including if a school changes their child's gender markers or sex-based accommodations, the number of school counselors in their child's school, if their child receives mental health treatment or brings a weapon to school, all enrollment and transfer options, planned outside speakers at school events, violent activity on school grounds, elimination of gifted and talented programs, and notification if a student is not grade-level proficient in reading at the end of third grade. Among other provisions, the bill would specify that it does not authorize federal involvement in curriculum or school personnel decisions and does not authorize parents to prohibit students who are not their children from accessing books or reading materials available in a school's library. It would express the sense of Congress that public school students should have access to broadband and opportunities to learn the history of the Holocaust and anti-Semitism, and that parents have a constitutional right to 'direct the education of their children.'" The vote was on passage. The House passed the bill by a vote of 213 to 208, thus the bill was sent to the Senate. [House Vote 161, 3/24/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5]
The Bill Would Mandate For Local Schools To Grant Greater Parental Oversight Over Education. According to Congressional Quarterly, "House Republicans on Friday passed a bill that would mandate local school systems give parents greater oversight over education, making good on a 2022 campaign pledge by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and providing fodder for a 2024 campaign battle over public schools." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23]
The Bill Would Affirm A Parent's Right To Speak To Local School Boards And Require Education Officials To Provide Barents With Book Lists And Instructional Materials, Online Budgetary Information And Alerts About Violence Instances. According to Congressional Quarterly, "The measure (HR 5), passed 213-208, is unlikely to be considered in the Democrat-controlled Senate. It would affirm a parent's right to address the local school board and would require education officials to provide parents with lists of books and other curriculum materials, online budgetary information and alerts about incidents of violence at their child's school." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23]
The Bill Would Require Schools To Notify Parents If Their Child Uses A Different Name Or Pronoun During School. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Schools also would have to notify parents if their child uses a different name or pronoun at school." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23]
Democrats Dubbed The Bill As The "Politics Over Parents Act" And Argued That Parents Already Have The Rights That The Bill Supposedly Grants To Parents. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Democrats dismissed the proposal as a gimmick and dubbed it the 'Politics Over Parents Act.' They say parents already have many of the rights stipulated by the bill." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23]
Some Republicans Recognized The Conflicts Imposed By The Bill's Expansion Of Oversight Duties Since Many Advocate For The Elimination Of The Department Of Education. According to Congressional Quarterly, "Some Republicans acknowledged conflicted feelings about the bill, which would expand the oversight responsibilities of the Department of Education, an agency conservatives have been pushing to eliminate for years." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23]
House Democrats Argued The Bill Could Affect LGBTQ Students By Requiring Schools To Report Transgender Students Who May Have No Come Out To Their Families. According to Congressional Quarterly, "House Democrats said the bill could harm LGBTQ youth by requiring schools to report transgender students who may not be ready to disclose their gender identity to their families." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23]
Republicans Claim That The Biden Administration Target Parents And Used Law Enforcement To Suppress Their Rights Involving Their Children's Education. According to Congressional Quarterly, "GOP leaders say their bill was motivated partly by an October 2021 memo from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland regarding threats against school administrators, board of education members, teachers and staff. GOP lawmakers allege that the Biden administration targeted parents and used law enforcement to infringe on their rights." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23]
Republican Officials Claimed The Biden Administration Of Calling Parents Who Attended School Board Meetings As "Domestic Terrorists." According to Congressional Quarterly, "Republican officials, including McCarthy, R-Calif., have repeatedly accused the administration of labeling parents who attend school board meetings as 'domestic terrorists,' an allegation that The Associated Press and other fact-checkers say is unfounded." [Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23]
2023: Schweikert Effectively Voted For The Parents Bill Of Rights Act. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against the "motion to recommit the bill to the House Education and Workforce Committee." The vote was on a motion to recommit. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 203 to 218, thus the House voted on passage subsequently. [House Vote 160, 3/24/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5]
2023: Schweikert Effectively Voted For The Parents Bill Of Rights Act. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the "adoption of the rule (H Res 241) that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill (HR 5) establishing requirements for schools to provide parents with information and certain rights regarding their children's education. The rule would provide for up to two hours of general debate on the bill and make in order floor consideration of 22 amendments." The vote was on the adoption of the rule. The House adopted the rule by a vote of 218 to 205. [House Vote 147, 3/23/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/23; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 241; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5]
2023: Schweikert Effectively Voted For The Parents Bill Of Rights Act. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for the "motion to order the previous question (thus ending debate and possibility of amendment) on the rule (H Res 241) that would provide for House floor consideration of the bill (HR 5) establishing requirements for schools to provide parents with information and certain rights regarding their children's education. The rule would provide for up to two hours of general debate on the bill and make in order floor consideration of 22 amendments." The vote was on a motion order the previous question. The House agreed to the motion by a vote of 219 to 204. [House Vote 146, 3/23/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/23; Congressional Actions, H.Res. 241; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5]
2023: Schweikert Voted Against An Amendment That Would Have Created A Private Right Of Action For Parents If Schools Failed To Comply With The Parental Bill Of Rights Act. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted against an amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would "create a private right of action for parents if schools do not comply with the bill's requirements. It would set a statute of limitations of 30 days and allow courts to grant injunctive relief or compensation for damages, including attorneys' fees." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 61 to 365. [House Vote 151, 3/23/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/23/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 116]
2023: Schweikert Voted For An Amendment That Would Have Allowed Title I Funds To "Follow A Student" To The School They Attend, Including Private, Public Or Home Schools, And Allow Funds To Be Used For Education Materials, Expenses, Therapies, And Extracurricular Activities. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Schweikert voted for an amendment to the Parents Bill of Rights Act, which would "allow Title I funds to 'follow a student' to the school they attend -- including in-person or remote public, private or home schools -- and permit the funds to be used for educational and instructional materials, tutoring, private school tuition, extracurricular activities, testing expenses and educational therapies for students with disabilities." The vote was on the adoption of an amendment. The House rejected the amendment by a vote of 113 to 311. [House Vote 158, 3/24/23; Congressional Quarterly, 3/24/23; Congressional Actions, H.R. 5; Congressional Actions, H.Amdt. 128]