Proposed rules direct schools to disclose student identity information to parents
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — Fiery debate took center stage at the Oklahoma State Department of Education on Friday afternoon as residents weighed in on proposed rule changes to the state's Parent's Bill of Rights.
One proposed change would direct school districts and employees to disclose known information to parents about their child's, "health, social, or psychological development, including Identity information."
Other rules would require parents' written consent for sex education and affirm the rights of parents to object to any instruction on sex, morality, or religion.
The proposal also outlines penalties for districts if they fail to follow the rules — including alterations to accreditation status.
Erika Wright, founder of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition, questioned the legality of the rules. According to her, the proposed measures arose outside of the legislative process.
Attorney Maria Seidler, chief counsel of Legal Overwatch for Parents' School Rights, explained to FOX 25 that a lack of legislative input might make the rules vulnerable to lawsuits.
Tracey Montgomery, the Oklahoma state coordinator for parentalrights.org, shared that she wrote the state's Parent's Bill of Rights — and lobbied for years for it to pass. She is urging the department to adopt the changes.
In her view, "If the school allows a child to be exposed to something that is harmful, or later proves to be, who lives with the consequences of that decision? The parent, and the child."
Tyler Owens spoke from personal experience, and argued that teachers should be able not to disclose certain information to parents who may not support their children.
"I was outed to my family while I was in high school. I did not make that choice, and I was outed in my identity, and I was homeless for the last year of my high school experience. I had no support from my family," explained Owens.
Gina Darby, when she addressed those gathered on Friday, shared that she is heavily involved with children in her community — is a mom to five — and wants these rules to pass.
According to Darby, she supports the rules, "because we go through so many changes as children. I've dyed my hair 100,000 times. I might have changed boyfriends several times, I might have eaten different foods, I'm a vegetarian, I'm not. Let these children grow up. Our children have enough on their plates besides you all telling them to keep stuff from their parents. Because when we keep this from them, we're going to start keeping when somebody's trying to rape and molest them."
Only two board members were present at the public comment hearing, which drew the ire of some of those who spoke.
Wright asserted that, "the fact that Superintendent [Ryan] Walters, is not sitting in that chair right now, is infuriating to me. Because all these people have taken time from their spring breaks, from their jobs, on both sides of this issue to be here."
Superintendent Walters' office did not immediately respond to FOX 25's request for comment.
The department's legal office informed FOX 25 that the Oklahoma State Board of Education would take up questions over the rules' legality when it convenes on Mar. 23.
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