SB 653 - This act establishes the "Parents' Bill of Rights." The act provides that every parent of a child shall have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of such parent's child. The act delineates specific aspects of such rights. Each school district and charter school shall develop and adopt policies to guarantee a parent's right to participate in their child's education. Such policies shall include procedures for a parent to view the curriculum taught to their child, information about extracurricular activities at the school, receiving information about potential school choice options for their child, information about health benefits associated with vaccination as well as procedures to exempt their child from vaccination, and information about enrolling their child in individual educational programs and gifted student programs.
The Commissioner of Education shall establish the Missouri Education Transparency Portal which shall be an internet-based tool to provide access to every school district's curriculum, source materials, professional development materials, and a list of guest speakers and lecturers at the schools within the district.
Any parent, as well as the local prosecuting or circuit attorney may bring suit against a school district or charter school for violations of the act. Upon a finding by a court that the school district or charter school has violated the act, such school district or charter school shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to ten thousand dollars.
This act is similar to HB 2068 (2022).
JAMIE ANDREWS