Parental rights and faith-based organizations from around California will be gathering at the state capitol next week to support a bill that prevents elementary schools from hiding comprehensive sex education lessons from parents. Senator Mike Morrell authored the SB 673 after hearing that some schools were disrespecting parental rights by making it very difficult for parents to review the actual sex-ed curriculum being used in elementary classrooms. A rally on the capitol steps and a hearing before the Senate Education Committee are scheduled for SB 673 Wednesday, January 15.
“Parents have the right to know what lessons are being covered in the classroom,” said Senator Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga). “We want them to be engaged and involved in the education of their children. This sensitive material needs to be transparent.”
SB 673 has two main provisions:
- It requires school districts that teach elementary-age comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention to put that curriculum online for easy and convenient parental review.
- It restores the right of parents of elementary-age students (TK-6th grade) to opt their children into comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education courses, rather than passively opt their children out.
Senator Mike Morrell (R-Rancho Cucamonga) introduced Senate Bill 673 after hearing from parents like Denise Pursche, a mother of twins from the bay area, who struggled for over a month to see the new sex-ed curriculum for her fifth graders. At first, school administrators with the Mt. Diablo Unified School District would only send her lesson titles and vague curriculum summaries. But that wasn’t good enough for Denise. She wanted to see the actual lessons and worksheets to be used in the classroom.
After being sent on detours, and then asking again and again, Denise finally got a chance to look at the actual lessons being used, but she could only review them at the school district office for a limited period of time. It is common practice for school officials to require parents to come to the school or district offices during school hours if they want to review the sex-ed lessons, a difficult prospect for single parents or homes with two working parents. But some districts like the San Francisco Unified School District do provide their sex education lessons online.
After Denise finally saw the graphic curriculum, she realized why school officials are in no rush to make these lessons easily accessible to parents. Read more about the curriculum here.
Rally and Hearing Details
Pre-Rally: Please join us on the south steps of the State Capitol from 8 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Speakers include:
- Senator Mike Morrell
- Dean Broyles with National Center for Law & Policy
- Dr. Ahmed Soboh with the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California
- Jonathan Keller with California Family Council
- Denise Pursche, Citizen Author of SB 673 and parent
Senate Education Committee Hearing: 9 a.m., Hearing Room 4203
Parental Rights Rally:
Location: South Steps of the State Capitol
When: At the conclusion of SB 673 hearing. Estimated Time at 10 a.m.
Speakers include:
- Rebecca Friedrichs with For Kids & County
- Gina Gleason with Real Impact
- Tim Thompson with Our Watch Now
- Marlo Tucker with Concerned Women for America
- Sarah Kim with Traditional Values for the Next Generation
- America Figueroa with Alliance to Protect Children
- Stephanie Yates with Informed Parents of California
Call in Action Steps
Please call the following member of the Senate Education Committee and encourage them to support Parent Rights and Sex-Ed Transparency by voting yes on SB 673.
Senator Connie M. Leyva (Chair) (San Bernardino – D)
Capitol Office (916) 651-4020
District Office: San Bernardino – (909) 888-5360; Chino – (909) 591-7016
Senator Scott Wilk (Vice Chair) (R – Lancaster)
Capitol Office (916) 651-4021
District Offices: Lancaster – (661) 729-6232
Santa Clarita – (661) 286-1471
Victorville – (760) 843-8414
Senator Ling Ling Chang (R – Brea)
Capitol Office: (916) 651-4029
District Office: Brea – (714) 671-9474
Senator Maria Elena Durazo (D – Los Angeles)
Capitol Office: (916) 651-4024
District Office: Los Angeles (213) 483-9300
Senator Steven M. Glazer (D – Antioch)
Capitol Office: (916) 651-4007
District Offices: Orinda – (925) 258-1176
Antioch – (925) 754-1461
Senator Mike McGuire (D -San Rafael)
Capitol Office: (916) 651-4002
District Offices: San Rafael – (415) 479-6612
Santa Rosa – (707) 576-2771
Senator Richard Pan (D)
Capitol Office: (916) 651-4006
District Office: Sacramento – (916) 651-1529
