West Virginia Governor Signs Bill Protecting Parental Rights
West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey has signed a Parents’ Bill of Rights into law, protecting parent’s fundamental right to guide the upbringing, education and health care of their children.
The West Virginia Parents’ Bill of Rights (H.B. 2129) reiterates the rights that parents have, including:
- The right to direct the education and care of his or her minor child.
- The right to direct the upbringing and the moral or religious training of his or her minor child.
- The right to apply to enroll his or her minor child in a public school or, as an alternative to public education, a private school, including a religious school, a home education program, or other available options, as authorized by law.
- The right to access and review all school records relating to his or her minor child.
- The right to make health care decisions for his or her minor child, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
Gov. Morrisey signed the legislation into law on Saturday, April 12. The state Senate passed the bill on March 24 in a 32-1 vote. The House of Delegates passed it on April 3 in an 89-9 vote.
“Parents love and know their child best, and they have the right and duty to direct the upbringing and care of their children,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Jordan Carpenter in a statement. He added,
According to ADF, 19 other states have enacted laws protecting parents’ rights.
Such legislation is crucial in protecting parents’ rights, especially their right to access and review their child’s school records. There are many stories from across the nation of public schools working overtime to hide children’s sexual identity struggles from their parents – or actively encouraging them to socially “transition” to the opposite sex.
And in California, schools are expressly prohibited from implementing policies requiring parents be notified of their child’s sexual identity struggles without the student’s consent.
We applaud the West Virginia Legislature’s and Gov. Morrisey’s decision to enact the Parents’ Bill of Rights.
To speak with a family help specialist or request resources, please call us at 1-800-A-FAMILY (232-6459).
Related articles and resources:
Equipping Parents for Back-to-School – The free download helps you be aware of what’s going on in your child’s classroom and offers guidance for how to advocate for your child.
Championing Parents’ Rights in Education
West Virginia Governor Signs ‘Riley Gaines Act’ Protecting Women’s Private Spaces
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Protect Parental Rights: ‘Parents Know Their Children Best’
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