The Texas State Senate passed two constitutional amendments related to parental rights. They are now pending before the House. If approved by the House, they would appear on the ballot for Nov. 7, 2023.
Senate Joint Resolution 29 would provide a state constitutional right for parents or legal guardians to direct their children’s education, including choosing an alternative to public school, accessing public school teaching materials, attending school board meetings, and accessing the child’s student health records. It passed the Senate on April 19 by a vote of 21-10 with two Democrats joining the Republican majority to meet the two-thirds vote requirement. The author of the amendment is Sen. Angela Paxton (R-8).
In the author’s statement of intent included with the resolution text, Paxton said, “In choosing professional educators to facilitate their child’s education, parents do not cede their right to educate their child. Therefore, the right for parents to be the ultimate decider of their child’s education should be enumerated in the Texas Constitution.”
