Establishes "Parents' Bill of Rights Act"; requires disclosure of certain information to parents and guardians.

A4776

ASSEMBLY, No. 4776

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN

District 10 (Monmouth and Ocean)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblyman Scharfenberger

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes �Parents� Bill of Rights Act�; requires
disclosure of certain information to parents and guardians.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
establishing the �Parents� Bill of Rights Act� and
supplementing chapter 36 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� This act shall be known
and may be cited as the �Parents� Bill of Rights Act.�

���� 2.��� The Legislature finds
and declares that parents and guardians hold an essential and natural authority
to oversee the upbringing, instruction, and care of their children.� The
Legislature finds that it is the responsibility of the State and local school
districts to support and empower, rather than interfere, with this authority.�
The Legislature finds it is necessary to establish a Parents� Bill of Rights to
ensure continued cooperation and transparency between schools, the State, and
parents.

���� 3.��� a.� The parent or
guardian of a student enrolled in a public school in the State shall have the
fundamental right to direct and participate in their child�s education
including, but not limited to, the right to:

���� (1)�� request information and
materials from a board of education of a school district or board of trustees of
a charter school or renaissance school project in accordance with section 4 of
this act;

���� (2)�� review and inspect the
student�s curriculum, textbooks, and any other instructional materials used in
their child�s education, including library books.� A parent or guardian shall
not be denied access to, or required to sign a nondisclosure agreement in order
to access, these materials;

���� (3)�� access and review the
student�s education records, in accordance with federal and State law,
including, but not limited to, report cards, transcripts, standardized test
scores, individual education program documents, attendance records,
disciplinary records, any evaluations or assessments of the student, student
health records, vaccination records, and counseling or psychological services
logs and history;

���� (4)�� be notified if the
school identifies any issues pertaining to their child�s physical, mental, or
emotional health, including any incidents of injury, illness, trauma,
significant changes in a student�s behavior, signs of depression, or reported
self-harm ideation.� A school shall not encourage a student to conceal these
issues from the student�s parent or guardian;

���� (5)�� inquire and receive
information about any changes to a student�s asserted gender identity,
pronouns, preferred name, and requests to participate on an athletic team or in
other activities organized by sex or gender;

���� (6)�� be notified prior to any
changes to special services or accommodations provided to the student,
including those provided in connection with an individualized education program
or 504 plan;

���� (7) opt out, without any
academic penalty, of any part of the curriculum in health, family life
education, or sex education that is in conflict with the parent or guardian�s
conscience, or sincerely held moral or religious belief.� A request to opt out
of the curriculum pursuant to this paragraph shall be made in writing;

���� (8)�� opt out, without any
academic penalty, of any part of the curriculum that a parent or guardian
believes substantially interferes with the religious development of the student.�
A request to opt out of a part of the curriculum pursuant to this paragraph
shall be made in writing, shall include the specific religious belief and
practice asserted, and be considered on a case by-case basis.� Once a request
is approved, the principal or chief school administrator shall direct school
personnel to provide a reasonable alternative assignment or independent study;

���� (9)�� limit or prohibit
student participation in any survey, questionnaire, or research project seeking
information on personal family beliefs, sexual behavior, mental health, or
other sensitive subject areas.� A school shall obtain parental consent prior to
administering any survey, assessment, questionnaire, or evaluative instrument
designed to collect information on a student�s personal beliefs, habits, family
life, political or religious beliefs, income, health behaviors, sexual
orientation, or any other similar matter;

���� (10)� receive information on
their child�s involvement in any significant incidents affecting student safety
that occur on school grounds or during school activities, including physical
assaults or altercations;

���� (11)� receive information on any
incident affecting the safety of the entire school community, including the
presence of weapons or illegal substances, bomb or active shooter threats, and
school evacuations;

���� (12)� provide input into
school policies, curriculum, and decisions that affect their children;

���� (13)� receive information
about district and school policies, budgets, and operations;

���� (14)� engage in open and
honest communication with their child�s teachers, school administration,
coaches, and medical staff; and

���� (15)� visit their child�s
school.

���� b.��� A board of education of
a school district or board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance
school project shall establish a policy providing for parental notification of
the rights established pursuant to this section.� A board of education or board
of trustees, or an employee thereof, shall not interfere with or suppress any
right enumerated in this section.

���� c.���� A board of education of
a school district or board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance
school project shall establish a complaint process by which a parent or
guardian may lodge complaints regarding a board of education or board of
trustee�s violation of subsection b. of this section.

���� 4.��� a.� In order to promote
transparency and cooperation, a board of education of a school district or
board of trustees of a charter school or renaissance school project shall establish
a policy providing for the release of the following information or materials
when requested by the parent or guardian of an enrolled student:

���� (1)�� curriculum information
and instructional materials;

���� (2)�� a class syllabus or
outline for each course their child is enrolled in;

���� (3)�� advance notice about any
guest speakers, presentations, or school assemblies, including those related to
topics addressing health and sexuality;

���� (4)�� student health records,
including the identities and professional credentials of any individual
providing health, psychological, or counseling services to their child;

���� (5)�� student education
records, including, but not limited to, information pertaining to any changes
to a student�s asserted gender identity, pronouns, preferred name, requests to
participate on an athletic team or in other activities organized by sex or gender,
and student accommodations;

���� (6)�� notice and copies of any
upcoming survey or questionnaires that will be distributed to students;

���� (7)�� district or school
policies, including any significant changes to the policies or academic
standards; and

���� (8)�� the annual budget,
including information on any third-party vendor or organization receiving funds
from the school district, charter school, or renaissance school project.

���� b.��� A parent or guardian that
wishes to obtain information or materials pursuant to this section shall submit
a written request to the principal or chief administrator of the student�s
school.

���� c.���� A board of education or
board of trustees shall provide a parent or guardian with the requested
information and materials within 10 schools days of receipt of the written
request.

���� 5.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes the
�Parents� Bill of Rights Act.�� The bill enumerates various fundamental rights
of parents and guardians of public school children that include, but are not
limited to: reviewing curriculum, textbooks, and other instructional materials;
accessing student education records and student health records; receiving
notification if a school identifies issues pertaining to a student�s physical,
mental, or emotional health; inquiring about changes to a student�s asserted
gender identity, pronouns, and preferred name; opt out protections for
curriculum that conflicts with certain beliefs or substantially interferes with
the religious development of the student; limiting or prohibiting student
participation in certain surveys and questionnaires; receiving information
concerning student and schoolwide safety; providing input into school policies,
curriculum, and decisions; and visiting their child�s school.� The bill directs
boards of education of school districts and boards of trustees of charter
schools or renaissance school projects to establish a policy providing for
parental notification of the rights established pursuant to the bill and
prohibits a board of education or board of trustees, or an employee thereof,
from interfering with or suppressing any rights enumerated in the bill.� A
board of education and board of trustees would also establish a complaint
process by which a parent or guardian may lodge complaints regarding a board of
education or board of trustee�s violation of the provisions of the bill.

���� Under the bill, boards of
education and boards of trustees are required to establish a policy providing
for the release of certain information listed in the bill when requested by a
parent or guardian.� A parent or guardian that wishes to obtain the information
or materials is required to submit a written request to the principal or chief
administrator of the student�s school.� The board of education or board of
trustees would provide the requested information within 10 school days of
receipt.