[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 11 (Thursday, February 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H451]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PARENTAL FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT

  (Mr. TIAHRT asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. TIAHRT. Mr. Speaker, yesterday I introduced the Parental Freedom 
of Information Act along with 48 other cosponsors. It is an act which 
will empower parents to guide and participate in the education of their 
children.
  Teachers have told me that involved parents are the most important 
thing public schools need to help students learn. I believe involved 
parents must be informed parents.
  The Parental Freedom of Information Act will ensure that parents have 
access to curriculum and testing materials to which their children are 
exposed and will require parental consent prior to any student being 
required to undergo medical or psychological testing or treatment while 
at school. Again, that is, before any mandatory medical exams or 
treatment or mandatory psychological testing, parents must be notified 
for their consent.
  This legislation in no way seeks to influence the content or 
curriculum of tests. It simply allows parents to access the basic 
information which involved parents need to guide the education of their 
children.
  Most of us agree that when parents get involved in their child's 
education, their children do better in school and their schools become 
stronger. This legislation will help remove the obstacles that prevent 
parents from being involved. So let us get behind the Parental Freedom 
of Information Act.

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