With a vote of 217 to 198, the US House of Representatives approved the “Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act (H.R. 2616).” This legislation would require elementary and middle schools to obtain explicit parental consent before changing a student’s pronouns or preferred name in school records, changing gender markers, allowing access to sex-specific spaces (restrooms, locker rooms) based on gender identity. Certain federal funding would be dependent on the school complying with this requirement and it would prohibit certain federal education money from being used to teach or advance concepts related to gender ideology. This would NOT allow schools to facilitate gender transitions or encourage their students to change their names and pronouns without telling the parents.
Parents know their children better than the school staff so when a situation at school could have a lasting impact on the child’s well-being and development, the parent should be "included in the conversation."
Currently there isn’t any bill in the US Senate that is similar to the “Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids Act.” After this bill was passed in the House of Representatives, it was sent to the US Senate. The Senate could initiate this bill as-is, amend it, introduce a similar Senate companion bill or it could die in committee. If the Senate does pass a similar bill, then any differences would need to be resolved between the two houses. If there are changes, then the House and Senate would, again, have to pass it before it goes before the President to sign or veto. If you would like the Senate to work on this bill, write to your US Senator.
I believe that teachers in our public classrooms (and the whole school system) should be focused on academics instead of political or ideological issues. There has been a steady decline in the proficiency ratings in the last two decades. We need to get back to the basics. Also, I strongly believe that biological male students should not be allowed in female restrooms or gym lockers rooms. If there are transgender student(s) in a school, then that school should provide a specific restroom for the transgender students.