Akron Schools Revise Notification Rules Under Parents’ Bill of Rights
Akron Public Schools must now give parents advance notice before teaching lessons that include sexuality content, such as sexual orientation and gender identity, and provide a formal opt-out option for students.
The change stems from Ohio’s House Bill 8, known as the Parents’ Bill of Rights, passed on Jan. 8 and effective statewide by July. The law asserts that parents have “a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the upbringing, education, and care of the parent’s child.”
Locally, Akron Policy 5780.01 has been in place since June, but school board member Bruce Alexander confirmed revisions are underway. The district’s Legal, Policy, and Contracts subcommittee is working to clarify implementation details.
Key changes include:
- Parents will be notified of significant changes in their child’s counseling, health, or well-being.
- Parents will be notified if a student requests to identify with a gender different from their sex assigned at birth.
- Parents may review lesson materials in advance and excuse their child from instruction involving sexuality content.
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Notifications are likely to be delivered by phone or email.
The law also expands parental access to school records and guarantees an alternative assignment if a student opts out of certain lessons.
Opponents, calling it Ohio’s version of a “Don’t Say Gay” bill, argue that forced parental notifications around gender identity may endanger students who do not feel safe sharing such information at home. “That could turn into an issue because children may not want their parents to know,” Alexander acknowledged.
Under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, parents have the right and responsibility to guide their children’s upbringing and education. At the same time, this guidance must respect the child’s evolving capacities and individual rights.
Akron’s policy highlights the ongoing challenge of balancing parental involvement with protecting student well-being in sensitive areas of identity and education.
