The initiative will re-establish protections for students in schools and re-affirm that parents are the primary stakeholders in medical, academic, and personal decisions for their children
This week, Let’s Go Washington (LGW) introduced an initiative to repeal ESSB-5181 which would effectively undo the protections of parent’s voices in schools. The initiative, which will be available on the Secretary of State’s website after approved by SOS staff, will re-establish protections for students in schools and re-affirm that parents are the primary stakeholders in medical, academic, and personal decisions for their children.
Just a few months ago, the legislature passed I-2081 with sweeping bipartisan support after the initiative made history as the fifth most signed in state history. While thousands of Washingtonians saw this as a necessary protection to affirm that parents, not administrators or bureaucrats, have the final say on how to raise their children, many state officials and Democrat legislators made it clear that they would not comply with the new law.
Now, less than a year after the initiative was approved by Democrats and Republicans, it faces critical attacks that would entirely undermine the authority of parents in schools, yet again. ESSB-5181 would block parents from suing over violations of their rights, eliminate voters’ ability to challenge the bill via referendum, and keep parents in the dark about their child’s medical information. This comes even after King County judge, Michael Scott, ruled that I-2081 was constitutional and that all parts of the new law should be enforced by schools.
The new initiative would establish, again, that parents are the primary stakeholders in decisions pertaining to their students. It rolls back the problematic provisions of ESSB-5181 that take agency away from parents and bestow it upon government employees, thereby affirming the state’s commitment to parents and students.
Let’s Go Washington Founder, Brian Heywood, issued the following statement:
“Parents made their voices heard with I-2081 – they do not want schools or the state to keep secrets about their children. The majority party in the legislature realized parental notification is a popular hot-button issue with overwhelming support so they passed I-2081 into law with a large bipartisan majority. It now appears, however, that they did so with a snarky wink and a nod and the intent to gut the bill during the next legislative session. ESSB-5181 is the Democrats’ cynical attempt to strip parents of their rights and keep important medical and mental information hidden.
Our new initiative preemptively pushes back against their shady dealings and simply repeals ESSB-5181 should it pass through the legislature. No state employee, no matter how well intentioned, can know or love a child better than their own parents. With ESSB-5181, the legislature is saying that not only do they know better than parents, they have the right to keep secrets from those parents. We will fight Olympia’s arrogance at every turn starting with this new initiative to repeal ESSB-5181.”
Let’s Go Washington will continue to fight for the rights of parents even as the state actively works against what is best for parents and children.
Visit letsgowashington.com for more information.
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