Parental Oversight and Educational Transparency Act
In Committee
Introduced:Feb 18, 2025
Primary Sponsor
Eleanor Holmes Norton
Representative
Democratic
DC-0
Cosponsors
1
Quick Stats
Policy Area
Education
Summary
The Parental Oversight and Educational Transparency Act requires schools to directly notify parents 14 days before activities involving information collection, surveys, or screenings, and obtain written consent for student participation. This expands existing annual notification requirements to require advance notice and explicit parental permission for each activity involving student privacy.
Latest Action
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
The Parental Oversight and Educational Transparency Act requires schools to directly notify parents 14 days before activities involving information collection, surveys, or screenings, and obtain written consent for student participation. This expands existing annual notification requirements to require advance notice and explicit parental permission for each activity involving student privacy.
Last updated: 12/30/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Parental Oversight and Educational Transparency Act</strong></p><p>This bill requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to provide additional notification to, and receive written consent from, parents of students regarding certain school activities that relate to students' privacy. </p><p>Under current law, an LEA must annually notify parents of the specific or approximate dates during the school year when specified activities involving information collection, surveys, and screenings are scheduled or expected to be scheduled.</p><p>In addition to this required notification, the bill requires an LEA to directly notify a student's parent 14 days before the scheduled activity and receive written consent from the parent in order for the student to participate in the activity.</p>
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Requires 14-day advance notice to parents before surveys/screenings
Mandates written parental consent for student participation
Applies to information collection activities in schools
Expands existing Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment
Increases parental control over student privacy matters
Covers activities involving data collection and surveys
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill significantly expands parental notification and consent requirements for school activities involving student information. Schools would need to plan activities further in advance and obtain individual parental consent. Proponents argue this protects student privacy and parental rights. Critics may note increased administrative burden on schools and potential for reduced participation in legitimate educational assessments. Implementation would require schools to develop new consent tracking systems.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Education
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
1416, 119th Congress (2025). "Parental Oversight and Educational Transparency Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1416
