California Parents' Bill of Rights Act.

Existing law provides for certain personal rights by statute, including the right to protection from bodily restraint or harm, from personal insult, from defamation, and from injury to personal relations. Under this bill, known as the California Parents' Bill of Rights, the state would recognize certain rights, including, among others, the right of a parent or guardian to advise on the moral or religious training of their minor child. The bill would specify that the recognition of those rights does not preclude an employee of a local educational agency, as defined, from acting in the employee's official capacity within the scope of the employee's authority. Existing law provides a parent or guardian of a pupil enrolled in a public school the right to participate in the education of their children, as specified, including, among others, the right to observe their child's classroom within a reasonable period of time following a request therefor. This bill would require a charter school, school district, or county office of education to, among other things, provide parents and guardians with opportunities to participate in schools to improve parent and teacher cooperation in areas including homework, school attendance, and discipline. The bill would also require those local educational agencies to post on their respective internet website specified information, including how to receive information about school choice options offered by the local educational agency. By imposing additional duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.