Update on I-2081 (Parents’ Bill of Rights) Implementation

Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 01/27/2025 04:27 PM PST

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Update on I-2081 (Parents’ Bill of Rights) Implementation

Civil Rights Coordinators:

This afternoon, State Superintendent Chris Reykdal sent the message below to school district superintendents. We are sharing it with you so you are in the loop.

Dear Superintendents and Education Partners:

This afternoon, King County Superior Court Judge Michael Scott signed an order granting summary judgment to the defendants in Legal Counsel for Youth and Children, et. al. v. State of Washington, dismissing the lawsuit and stating that Initiative 2081 (I-2081), codified at RCW 28A.605.005, does not violate the Washington State Constitution.

As a reminder, Judge Scott issued a preliminary injunction on June 21, 2024, requiring that certain provisions of I-2081 be placed on hold while the litigation progressed through the legal process. The portions that were placed on hold at that time were:

Subsection (2)(b)(i)’s requirement that parents “receive a copy of their child’s records within 10 business days of submitting a written request, either electronically or on paper.”
Those portions of I-2081 that require the disclosure of medical, health, and mental health records and/or information protected by RCW 70.02.020.

Today’s order means that all sections of I-2081 are now in effect. Our Legal Affairs team is working quickly to update our guidance related to the implementation of the Initiative. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor this case––the plaintiffs have not yet announced whether they will seek an appeal––as well as potential actions by the Legislature.

There are several bills already proposed by legislators related to the Parents’ Bill of Rights, including:

Senate Bill 5181 - Amending the parents’ rights initiative to bring it into alignment with existing law.
Senate Bill 5180 - Securing the rights of students to have a safe, civil, and respectful learning community.
House Bill 1296 - Promoting a safe and supportive public education system.

We anticipate that many of you will be engaging with your legal counsel, and we encourage you to do so. We will keep you updated as we develop additional guidance.

Keeping you informed,

Chris

ALL STUDENTS PREPARED FOR POST-SECONDARY PATHWAYS, CAREERS, AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT.

Led by State Superintendent Chris Reykdal, OSPI oversees K-12 public education in Washington state. Our mission is to provide funding, resources, tools, data and technical assistance that enable educators to ensure students succeed in our public schools, are prepared to access post-secondary training and education, and are equipped to thrive in their careers and lives.

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