Statewide - Initiative Measure No. IL26-001

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Statement For · Travis Reep, Alesha Perkins, Peter Rosenkranz, Tony Harris, Amy Sousa, Jess Grant

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Committee: Travis Reep, Public School Elementary Teacher, Elected Union Representative; Alesha Perkins, Parent and Education Advocate, Independent Writer; Peter Rosenkranz, M.Ed., Superintendent, La Center School District; Tony Harris, Public School Science/STEM Teacher, Elected Union Representative; Amy Sousa, M.A. in Depth Psychology, Women’s Rights Advocate; Jess Grant, Member, Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender

Vote Yes to Restore Parents’ Rights in Education These rights include access to their child’s instructional materials and student records, notice of medical services, opt-outs from certain activities and instruction, and immediate notification when law enforcement questions their child or their child is removed from campus without parental permission. Protecting Vulnerable Children School staff remain mandatory reporters of suspected child abuse or neglect. Privacy for vulnerable children remains paramount. But safeguards designed for children at risk should not become a default policy of withholding information from all parents. Support Families, Not Secrecy Parents must give permission for schools to administer medication, apply sunscreen, or take students on field trips. Yet current policies allow schools to withhold critical information when a child expresses a new gender identity at school. These policies may require staff to conceal this information from parents, even when doing so conflicts with their conscience or professional judgment. Opponents call sharing this information with parents “outing” even when significant changes to a minor’s school life may already be known to classmates, teachers, and staff. Deliberately excluding parents treats them as inherently unsafe without an individualized assessment. This undermines the vital parent-child relationship and denies families the opportunity to navigate consequential questions about health and well-being together. Restore Trust in Washington Schools Schools are essential partners in a child’s educational success, while parents are responsible for raising their children. Respecting these distinct roles is essential to restoring trust. Vote yes.

Rebuttal of argument against

Don’t be misled. IL26-001 expressly states that schools “shall not be required to release” mental health counseling records when a parent is the target of a child abuse or neglect investigation; requires “immediate notification” if a criminal action is deemed committed against or by their child; and contains zero mandates placing students in danger. The measure preserves safeguards while ensuring parents receive consequential information about their children. Vote yes.

Statement Against · John Lovick, Roshelle Cleland, Justin Gill,, Karen Crowley, Courtney Normand,, Jaime Fineman-McKinney

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Committee: John Lovick, State Senator, Democrat, former Snohomish County Sheriff; Roshelle Cleland, Washington Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault; Justin Gill, APRN, President, Washington State Nurses Association; Karen Crowley, President, League of Women Voters of Washington; Courtney Normand, Washington State Director, Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates; Jaime Fineman-McKinney, Nationally Board Certified School Counselor, Fife

Vote No On Removing Commonsense Protections For Child Abuse Victims While most parents are loving, the sad reality is there were 117,000 reports of child abuse or neglect in WA in 2024 alone. This poorly written measure further endangers vulnerable child abuse victims by requiring schools to hand over sensitive information to parents under criminal investigation for raping, abusing or otherwise harming their own child. That’s why it’s opposed by law enforcement and the WA Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Vote No On Delaying Parental Notification When Children Are Crime Victims If a student is the victim of a serious crime at school, parents should not have to wait to find out. An unintended consequence of IL26-001 is ending Washington’s legal requirement that schools immediately notify parents when the crime is reported. Experts say delayed notification only adds to the child’s trauma and can prevent a child from getting immediate help and support from loved ones and professionals. Vote No On Worsening The Teen Mental Health And Homelessness Crisis School nurses and counselors say this measure, bankrolled by ultra-conservatives, discourages students facing domestic violence, sexual abuse, or bullying from seeking help from trusted teachers and school counselors, who would be required to release students’ confidential records. It also forces schools to knowingly put LGBTQ+ kids in increased danger of violence and homelessness by outing them to potentially abusive families.That’s why the WA State Nurses Association, doctors, and school counselors oppose this measure.

Rebuttal of argument for

IL26-001, bankrolled by ultra-conservative interests, is so poorly written it would eliminate key existing parental rights. It will repeal current state laws that guarantee parents’ rights to immediate notification if their child is a victim of a crime at school. It ends commonsense protections for child abuse victims whose parents are accused of child abuse and rape. That’s why it’s opposed by the WA Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. Vote No.