SOUTH WHIDBEY: Progressives launch effort to block popular parental rights education law

Liv Finne, the director of the Center for Education at the Washington Policy Center, wrote a blog article about the American Civil Liberties Union’s lawsuit to block the “Parental Bill of Rights” law, which the South Whidbey School District has joined as a co-plaintiff.

On June 6th, Washington’s new Parental Bill of Rights law went into effect. This popular law is a result of direct democracy.  It was presented to the state legislature in January by over 454,000 citizens who signed Initiative 2081.

Lawmakers could hardly ignore such a grassroots movement, and the measure garnered huge bi-partisan majorities – passing in the Senate by acclamation and being approved in the House by a vote of 82 to 15.  Even far left-wing members like Sen. Jaimie Pedersen and Rep. Tomiko-Santos supported it….

Yet some members of the establishment are angry at the idea of protecting parent rights in public education.  Kathleen Taylor, the Executive Director of the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, apparently doesn’t think “civil liberties” should extend to parents.

She has now filed a lawsuit to block the new law.  Members of the South Whidbey School board are also opposing parents, using District funds to join as co-plaintiffs.

For details on how the law helps families stay engaged and supportive of school children see my Legislative Memo analysis of Initiative 2081.