Public elementary and middle schools that receive federal funding would be required to get written parental consent before changing a student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on school forms, or before granting access to sex-separated spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms. The rule would apply to any K-8 public school receiving money under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act — which covers the vast majority of public schools in the country. Schools that skip the consent step would risk losing that federal funding. Parents are defined using the same meaning the law already applies to federal education programs, which includes legal guardians.
Civil Liberties
- Parental consent requirement for school name and pronoun changes — Required before K-8 schools may update gender markers, pronouns, or preferred names on forms
- Parental consent requirement for sex-based accommodations — Required before K-8 schools may grant access to bathrooms or locker rooms outside biological sex
- Student control over school recognition of gender identity — Disclosure to parents made a condition of school recognition for K-8 students
- Federal ESEA funding for noncompliant schools — Made conditional on meeting the consent requirement
Congressional Summary
Parental Rights Over The Education and Care of Their Kids Act or the PROTECT Kids ActThis bill requires public elementary and middle schools, as a condition of receiving certain federal funds for elementary and secondary education, to obtain parental consent before changing a student's gender on school forms or changing a student's sex-based accommodations.Specifically, an elementary school or a school consisting of only grades 5-8 must obtain parental consent before changing a minor student's (1) gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or (2) sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Introduced in House
- Action Date
- 2025-04-03
- Date Added
- 2026-04-24
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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