HALL MONITOR: “YES” on the Parents Bill of Rights in Wisconsin (AB 510)
Name: Wisconsin Assembly Bill 510, Rights Reserved to the Parents or Guardians of a Child.
Summary: Establishes fundamental parental rights in education in Wisconsin.
Status: Passed the House on January 17, 2024, and passed the Senate on February 15, 2024.
Sponsors:
| Robert Wittke | Rick Grundum | Dave Maxey | Amanda Nedweski | Peter Schmidt |
| Amy Binnsfield | Nik Rettinger | Scott Allen | Gae Magnafici | David Steffen |
| Robert Brooks | David Armstrong | Calvin Callaghan | Jerry O’Connor | Joy Goeben |
| Ty Bodden | Angie Sapik | Paul Tittl | Tom Michalski | Ellen Schutt |
| William Penterman | Barbara Dittrick | David Murphy | Chanz Green | Elijah Behnke |
| Jeffrey Mursau | Janel Brandtjen | Chuck Wichgers | Nate Gustafson | Nancy Vandermeer |
| James Edming | Van Wanggaard | Romaine Quinn | Howard Marklein | Steve Nass |
A sponsor is a legislator who presents a bill to the legislature to be considered for a vote.
Bill Breakdown:
Wisconsin AB 510 recognizes fundamental parental rights, including rights to direct the religious upbringing of their children, choose the type of school their child will attend, the right to determine the names and pronouns used for their child at school, the right to know about disciplinary actions taken against their child, the right to know about their child’s academic proficiency, and the right to know about any threats to their child’s safety at school. The bill also requires schools to allow parents to access all records kept about their child and obtain parental consent for any healthcare service provided to students.
The bill allows parents to review curriculum, visit the child in school, and be notified if a controversial subject will be covered or a survey that reveals sensitive information will be conducted; consequently, it protects parents’ rights to opt their child out of instructional materials or classes that the parent deems to be in conflict with the religious or personal convictions with which they are raising their child.
The bill also states the parental right to engage with the school board of their child’s school and requires schools to establish a system to address parents’ complaints should they believe the school to violate the described parental rights.
Why did PDE Action support this bill?
Parents, not the government, have the right to direct the care and upbringing of their children.
PDE Action supports Wisconsin AB 510 because it protects parental rights and ensures that schools are transparent and cooperative with parents’ wishes for their child’s care and upbringing. The government should not make decisions about a child without the parent’s knowledge or consent.