Parent rights-amendments.
School districts must notify parents of student information, prohibit preferred pronoun use conflicting with biological sex, require parental consent for diversity instruction, and allow staff to opt out of certain trainings.
Full legal title
AN ACT relating to education; clarifying procedures and requirements for school districts to provide parents notice of information regarding students; prohibiting school districts from requiring school district personnel and students to use a student's preferred pronoun if the pronoun does not align with the student's biological sex; requiring parental or guardian permission before instruction relating to diversity, equity or inclusion; authorizing school district personnel to opt out of mandatory trainings as specified; providing definitions; requiring reporting; and providing for an effective date.
Amends parental notification requirements and student welfare procedures in school districts, restricting pronoun usage policies and requiring parental permission for certain instructional content.
- Requires school districts to notify parents or guardians as soon as practicable of any change in a student's educational, physical, mental or emotional health or well-being during school hours or school-sponsored activities, and to encourage students to discuss such issues with parents or guardians. (W.S. 21-3-135(a)(i), Sec. 1)
- Prohibits school districts from adopting rules, policies, or procedures that prevent or discourage school personnel from notifying parents or guardians about changes in a student's educational, physical, mental or emotional health or well-being. (W.S. 21-3-135(a)(iii), Sec. 1)
- Requires written or electronic parental or guardian permission at least one day prior to student participation in trainings, courses, or classes addressing sexual orientation, gender identity, or diversity, equity and inclusion. (W.S. 21-3-135(a)(v), Sec. 1)
- Requires school districts to notify parents or guardians at least five days before a student attends an assembly, extracurricular activity, or guest speaker presentation addressing sexual orientation, gender identity, or diversity, equity and inclusion, and to provide an option to opt the student out. (W.S. 21-3-135(a)(vi), Sec. 1)
- Requires school districts to adopt policies prohibiting school personnel and students from being required to refer to a student using a preferred pronoun if it does not align with the student's biological sex. (W.S. 21-3-135(a)(vii), Sec. 1)
- Requires school districts to adopt policies allowing school personnel to opt out of mandatory classes, trainings, or programs involving diversity, equity and inclusion. (W.S. 21-3-135(a)(viii), Sec. 1)
- Beginning school year 2024-2025, requires school districts to make available information about routine health care services offered at school and provide parents the option to withhold or decline consent for specific services. (W.S. 21-3-135(b), Sec. 1)
- Beginning school year 2026-2027, requires school districts to publish all written policies, practices and procedures on their website at the beginning of each school year and post updates within thirty days of adoption.
