Education-Parent's Rights
104. Enforcement of Parental Rights
Parents need more effective mechanisms to enforce their rights in education. We support creation of impartial ombudsmen in both general education and special education. We call on the Legislature to establish laws to allow for appeals beyond the school district when parents file grievances to protect their rights as well as a process to administer penalties to districts and their personnel who violate those rights. Enforcements must include criminal, civil, and other enforcement measures while giving the state and private citizens a right to sue outside of the local grievance process with expedited enforcement. We call for development of a Parent's Right to Know and Consent booklet that contains pertinent state and federal law. The federal Pupil Protection Rights Amendment and the Children's Internet Protection Act shall be codified in Texas law, so that additional state protections for students with disabilities are included. We call for reforms to the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program (DAEP) placement to protect parents' rights and ensure that placement is reserved only for serious offenses.
