Parental Rights in Education

When Did We Lose the Right to Know? Parental Rights Under Attack

🖊️ Written by Mrs. Nita    📅 Jun 07 at 07:38 pm    🕒 6 min read

Parental rights in education are slowly slipping away.

Recently, I watched a press conference that stirred something deep inside me.

Standing on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court, a group of strong women — including leaders from Moms for Liberty, public officials, and education advocates — made a bold declaration:
“We DO NOT CO-PARENT with the Government.”
(You can watch it here).

Hearing those words, spoken with such conviction, reminded me of something that’s easy to forget:
Parental rights aren’t just under pressure — they’re under assault.

Organizations like Moms for Liberty are leading the charge, fighting not just for their own families, but for all of ours. And watching them, I felt both challenged and encouraged.

As a Christian parent, I realize that this is more than a political fight — it’s a spiritual one.
We are called to raise our children in truth and righteousness. But how can we do that if schools and policies work to shut us out of the most important conversations?

The battle for parental rights isn’t coming — it’s here. And it’s time for us to stand.


The Quiet Shift: How Policies Are Sidelining Parents

Across the country, policies have been slipping quietly into school systems—policies that directly block parental knowledge about what their children are being taught. Parental rights in education being quietly removed is evident all around us.

Take Maryland’s Welcoming Schools program, or California’s AB-1266, which allows students to choose restrooms and sports teams according to their gender identity — without informing parents. According to a 2024 Pew Research survey, only 31% of parents feel fully informed about their child’s curriculum and school policies.

Worse yet, some districts are enacting what are called “non-disclosure policies”—guidelines that prevent teachers from informing parents about students’ gender identity transitions at school.

“The fact that I was not allowed to notify parents about major changes in a student’s life was heartbreaking,” shared one former teacher in a national testimonial video from Parents Defending Education. “It’s a moral conflict no Christian teacher should have to endure.”


Current National Landscape: Parental Rights in Education

A 2025 study by the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) found:

Policy Area % of States Requiring Parental Notification
Curriculum Changes 48%
Gender Identity Policies 27%
Counseling Services 66%
Sexual Education Content 72%

Parental Rights in Education

Source: NCSL 2025 State Education Policy Update

What this tells us is clear: parents are being systematically removed from critical conversations about their children’s education and well-being.

We can easily see that parents aren’t always in the loop — especially on really important topics like gender identity and curriculum changes.

As a Christian parent, that’s alarming. If we’re not being told what’s happening, how can we guide our children in truth and love?

That’s why parental rights matter so much. We can’t assume schools will keep us informed — we have to be proactive, involved, and prayerful.


Why This Matters: A Biblical Perspective

Parental authority is not just a civil right — it’s a biblical mandate.

Proverbs 22:6Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Ephesians 6:4Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

When schools undermine parental rights, they interfere with the sacred duty God has given us as parents. They reshape values and worldviews in ways that may contradict the foundational truths we are called to instill.

And when parents are cut out, the enemy gains a foothold.


Real Voices: Parents Under Pressure

  • Lily R., a Christian mom in Texas, was shocked when she discovered her daughter’s school had started a gender support plan without her knowledge. “I felt robbed — robbed of the chance to parent my child in truth,” she said.

  • Mike S., a father in Virginia, fought back after being denied access to his son’s counseling records. “They told me it was confidential,” he said. “But my son is a minor. Who has more right to know than me, his father?”

These are not isolated incidents. They are the direct outcome of policies designed to limit parental rights.


Parents Are Fighting Back — And Winning

There is good news: Parents are reclaiming their rights.

Several states, including Florida and Oklahoma, have passed Parental Rights in Education bills that:

  • Require notification about changes in mental, emotional, or physical health.

  • Mandate transparency in curriculum materials.

  • Reinforce parents’ rights to opt their children out of controversial content.

In 2025, Texas passed SB 1231, which ensures parents must be informed about counseling services and sensitive subjects being taught — a victory for Christian families fighting for transparency.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children.

We have a biblical and civic responsibility to remain involved.


What Can We Do? Practical Steps for Christian Parents

When I see how many gaps there are in these laws, it reminds me that I can’t be passive. Here’s what we can do to protect our families:

  1. Ask Questions
    Don’t be afraid to ask your child’s teacher or school administrator directly about what’s being taught and what policies are in place.

  2. Request Policies in Writing
    Schools usually have to share their curriculum and policies if you ask for them. I’ve learned it’s important to have things in writing.

  3. Opt Out When Necessary
    Many states allow parents to opt their children out of sex education or sensitive lessons. Know your rights and use them.

  4. Support Parental Rights Laws
    Get involved locally. Support policies and lawmakers who fight for transparency and parental involvement.

  5. Pray and Stay Involved
    We are called to raise our children in truth. Staying connected to what’s happening at school — and bringing it to God in prayer — is one of the most important things we can do.

Romans 12:2Do not conform to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.


Why HeroesMart Academy Exists

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone.

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📬 Join Our Freebie Mailing List
💬 Get Support in Our Facebook Group
🏫 Enroll in HeroesMart Academy

🎁 This Week’s Freebie: Christian Homeschool Planner for Working Moms (Printable PDF)


Looking Ahead

Next week, we’ll dive deeper into how policies are actively blocking parents from knowing vital information about their children’s school life — and what you can do about it.

Stay tuned for:
Parental Rights Eroded: Policies That Block Parents from Knowing Key Details About Their Child’s School Life


References

  • National Conference of State Legislatures. State Education Policy Update, 2025.

  • Pew Research Center. Public Trust in Education Institutions Survey, 2024.

  • Deuteronomy 6:6–7, English Standard Version (ESV).

  • Ephesians 6:4, English Standard Version (ESV).

  • Proverbs 22:6, English Standard Version (ESV).

  • Romans 12:2, English Standard Version (ESV).

  • Parents Defending Education. Testimony Archive, 2024.

  • State of Texas. SB 1231 Parental Rights in Education Act, 2025.

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