{"id":354852,"date":"2016-04-04T11:01:41","date_gmt":"2016-04-04T16:01:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/education\/curriculum-standards-school-funding\/parent-trigger-laws-overview.html"},"modified":"2024-06-30T00:00:02","modified_gmt":"2024-06-30T05:00:02","slug":"parent-trigger-laws-overview","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/education\/curriculum-standards-school-funding\/parent-trigger-laws-overview.html","title":{"rendered":"What Are Parent Trigger Laws?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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What Are Parent Trigger Laws?<\/h1>\n
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\n By Jade Yeban, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Susan Mills Richmond, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Parent trigger laws are designed to give parents significant leverage in the administration and direction of their children’s schools. These laws are grounded in the principle that parents are the primary stakeholders in their children’s education.<\/p>\r\n

They give parents the power to start change if the schools are not meeting performance benchmarks. This can include actions like replacing staff members and overhauling the educational curriculum. It could also mean converting a public school into a charter school.<\/p>\r\n

The concept is rooted in a growing desire among parents to play a more active role in educational environments. These environments shape their children’s futures. This is especially true when considering students’ extensive time at school and completing homework at home. Let’s explore parent trigger laws in more detail below.<\/p>\r\n

What Are Parent Trigger Laws?<\/h2>\r\n

A parent trigger law is a state-enacted policy that permits parents of students in a failing school to intervene. Parents can enact changes within a school district as a result. This law typically applies to elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools. These schools are low-performing schools under the State Board of Education standards.<\/p>\r\n

Under these laws, parents can usually sign a petition. If a sufficient percentage of parents agree, they can prompt corrective actions. These actions may include replacing school administration or inviting new management. They may also mean converting the school from a public school to a charter school. In extreme cases, they could mean closing the school altogether.<\/p>\r\n

Criteria set by state legislatures often determine the eligibility to activate these laws. These might include poor academic performance. They might include failure to meet educational standards the U.S. Department of Education sets.<\/p>\r\n

These laws also consider students’ civil rights. They help ensure students with disabilities<\/a> are considered. These students must be regarded fairly in any education program changes. Parent trigger laws give parents a more substantial role in their children’s education. They can push for significant reforms through the school board. They can then help ensure their children’s enrollment leads to quality education.<\/p>\r\n

Why Parent Trigger Laws Exist<\/h2>\r\n

The core purpose of parent trigger laws is to empower parents. Parents then have a direct impact on their children’s education. This is particularly helpful when schools fail to provide a satisfactory education. Many parents feel disconnected from their children’s day-to-day learning. These laws offer a mechanism to enhance their involvement and oversight.<\/p>\r\n

The intent is to ensure that schools are directly accountable to their communities. The theory is that when schools know parents have the authority to make sweeping changes, they will gain motivation. They may be more motivated to maintain high standards and be responsive to students’ needs. This empowerment is particularly crucial in areas where schools consistently underperform. These laws give parents a legal pathway to instigate necessary reforms in public education.<\/p>\r\n

The state of California pioneered the parent trigger law movement. California was the first state to pass a parent trigger law in 2010. This groundbreaking law set a precedent. It allowed parents at underperforming schools to start reforms through petitions.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

California Education Code (EC) Sections 53300-53303<\/a> established the Parent Empowerment Act, which was signed into law in January 2010 and made effective in April 2010. Since then, the concept has gained traction across the United States.<\/p>\r\n

As of 2016, seven states had adopted similar parent trigger laws<\/a>. These laws provide a mechanism for parental involvement in school restructuring efforts. They are aimed at improving educational outcomes and accountability. In 2023, 60 parent empowerment laws <\/a>were introduced across 24 states.<\/p>\r\n

Current State Laws: Parent Trigger Laws<\/h2>\r\n

In the United States, states like California<\/a>, Texas<\/a>, and Louisiana<\/a> have adopted parent trigger laws. These laws allow parents to intervene. They can do so when a school fails to meet specific educational standards as defined by the state. The types of interventions possible under these laws can vary. Each state has its own set of criteria and processes for such actions. The legislation helps ensure that parents have a real and practical influence over their children’s education.<\/p>\r\n

By law, parents can petition the school directly for changes in six of the seven states with parent trigger laws. Connecticut’s law doesn’t provide for parental petitions. Instead, It gives the state government and elected school officials more power. They can make compulsory changes. Generally, half of all parents with a child attending the school must sign the petition. In some states, students can sign petitions as well.<\/p>\r\n

The school involved must be low-performing in all seven states. However, the states use different standards for what that means. California’s law, for example, uses standards originally set in federal law under the expired No Child Left Behind Act<\/a>. For parents to demand changes, these standards require schools to meet four specific criteria<\/a>:<\/p>\r\n