Parents seeking information on what their local schools are teaching face significant barriers, including high fees for accessing public records through FOIA requests. Schools are demanding millions of dollars for this access, which raises concerns, especially after parents became more engaged in school activities due to perceived indoctrination during the pandemic, such as lessons on vaccines without parental consent.
Repeated instances of legal barriers have made it difficult for parents to challenge school policies, as state courts have provided schools with immunity from lawsuits regarding health-related issues. Many parents have resorted to observing school board meetings to understand school operations given the lack of transparency.
FOIA requests have become a common method for parents to gain insights into what children are being taught, particularly when school officials refuse to disclose lesson details. However, schools have been exploiting loopholes to inflate fees, making it hard for parents to obtain information. For example, the Rochester Community School District was sued for allegedly creating a dossier on a parent who criticized their policies, resulting in a costly settlement.
One mother, Elizabeth Clair, experienced extreme pushback when she submitted a FOIA request for emails containing the term “anti-retaliation. ” She was quoted over $33 million for a review of emails, alongside a deposit requirement of over $16 million, which highlights the lengths schools go to avoid revealing information.
Teachers’ unions are largely blamed for controlling information related to topics like Critical Race Theory and DEI lessons. They assert that they are acting appropriately, yet their actions suggest otherwise, as they hide behind legal tactics and exorbitant fees.
Ultimately, parents have a right to know what is taught in schools, funded by their taxes. There is a push for reforming the school system and teachers’ unions, as well as increasing school choice options. For now, some parents are considering homeschooling as a way to protect their children from unwanted influences in education.
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