Headed Back to School? Know Your Rights!
The back to school season is upon us! Between schedule planning and supply shopping, take a minute to familiarize yourself with the rights of parents and students in Texas schools.
Parents Have the Right to:
- Review your child’s educational records and request corrections
- Weigh in on school district matters
- A reasonable expectation of privacy
- Say “Merry Christmas”
- Pray on public school grounds
- Control sex education content for your child (school must have “opt-in” permission from parents first)
- Have your child participate in safer, sex-separated sports
We are blessed to live in a country and state that defends parental rights! Parents have the right to guide and direct their child’s education, which includes the institutions they attend and the content they are learning. In Texas, we promote school choice! Parents have the right to withdraw from public education and send their children to private school or to homeschool them.
Additionally, parents have the right to view the content of their child’s education by viewing instructional materials and classroom content. One of the greatest victories for transparent curriculum was House Bill 1605 passed in 2023. Under HB1605, teachers must establish online parent portals that allow parents to review the instructional materials being used in their children’s school.
In 2025, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 205, that establishes both a parental rights handbook and requires school board members to receive parental rights training. The parental rights training materials for school board members was finalized and approved by the Texas State Board of Education in April of this year. In the future, parents will have access to a handbook that will contain an explanation of all of the rights they have as parents.
Religious Liberties and Student Rights:
In Texas, students have the right to:
- Have student led Christian clubs;
- Hold student led bible studies on campus;
- Express their Christian values in class;
- Share their faith with other students; and
- Acknowledge Christian holidays.
One of the most significant victories of the 89th Texas Legislature is Senate Bill 10, which requires Texas public school classrooms to display a poster of the text of the Ten Commandments. This was a landmark victory for religious liberty, our nation’s history, and Texas students. The Ten Commandments have long been recognized as part of our nation’s history and civic heritage. Their influence can be seen throughout the development of American law and government.
The Ten Commandments are not displayed to establish a religion—but to recognize their undeniable role in the history and development of American law and government. Senate Bill 10 has prevailed at the federal level, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit upheld the law that requires the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. The law has also scored a victory in State Court with an attempt to block the law denied. The Texas Values team has been a major proponent of this law since the beginning, not only because it is consistent with the First Amendment, but because the 10 commandments are an important part of history for children to be exposed to in their education.
With the school year quickly approaching, the Texas Values team is working hard to make sure every classroom in Texas has a poster of the Ten Commandments. If you or your school district has an issue with enforcement or need to acquire your own posters, please let us know!
Protecting Women and Girls’ Sports:
Thankfully, here in Texas, your daughter is guaranteed fair competition and safer, sex-based classification in sports.
In 2021, the Texas Legislature passed HB 25, the Save Girls’ Sports Law, ensuring that girls competing in K-12 sports are not forced to compete against boys. In 2023, lawmakers strengthened those protections by passing SB 15, extending the same fairness protections to women’s collegiate athletics.
Most importantly, in June of this year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld our laws, and laws in 26 other states that protect girls’ sports. In Little v. Hecox and West Virginia v. B.P.J., the Supreme Court ruled to allow states like Texas to continue enforcing laws that separate athletic competition based on biological sex. The Court’s action leaves Texas’ protections fully intact and marks a significant victory for female athletes across the country.
Protecting Privacy:
This past session, the Texas legislature passed Senate Bill 8, otherwise known as the Texas Women’s Privacy Act. This law requires that multi-occupancy bathrooms, changing areas, or locker rooms must align with biological sex. Meaning, biological males must use the men’s facilities, and biological women must use the women’s facilities. This law went into effect in December of 2025, and it affects every public school, public university, and charter school. Your children have a right to reasonable privacy in their school’s bathrooms, locker rooms, showers, and hotel rooms on overnight trips. Texas Values is currently representing a family who experienced a violation of a daughter’s privacy in the high school locker room and bathroom. If you face a similar situation, please contact us at info@txvalues.org for assistance.
An Even Brighter Tomorrow:
There is always more work to be done in defending parental rights and religious liberties. This summer, the Texas Values team has been hard at work at the Texas State Board of Education to preserve true American history and Judeo-Christian values in K-12 education. Our work was successful, so Texas parents can look forward to an even better curriculum in the future!
As another school year begins, we encourage every parent to stay engaged, know your rights, review your child’s instructional materials, and partner with your local school community. We pray that these resources are helpful as you prepare to send your children back into the classroom.
Texas Values will continue fighting to ensure that Texas students receive an education that respects parents, protects religious liberty, preserves our history, and reflects the values that have made our state and nation strong.