2023: Fitzpatrick 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,
Fitzpatrick 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: Fitzpatrick Voted Against 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, Fitzpatrick voted against 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: Fitzpatrick 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, Fitzpatrick 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: Fitzpatrick Voted For 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, Fitzpatrick voted for
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: Fitzpatrick 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, Fitzpatrick 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: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Parents Bill Of Rights
Act. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick
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: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Parents Bill Of Rights
Act. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick
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: Fitzpatrick Effectively Voted For The Parents Bill Of Rights
Act. In March 2023, according to Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick
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: Fitzpatrick 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, Fitzpatrick 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: Fitzpatrick Voted Against 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,
Fitzpatrick voted against 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]