Initiative IL26-001: Parents' rights in public schoolsBring back the 2024 parents' rights law in public schools
Read the full text of the measure: Secretary of State's 2026 state Voters' Pamphlet (PDF)
In plain words
In 2024 the Legislature passed Initiative 2081, a list of parents' rights in public schools. In 2025 lawmakers changed that list. This measure undoes the 2025 changes and puts back the 2024 version, with some differences: faster records answers, notice of medical services, wider opt-outs from surveys and lessons, and some 2025 protections removed. (sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State) )
Before and after
| Question | Today (2025 law) | If it passes |
|---|---|---|
| Time for a school to answer a parent's records request | Up to 45 days | 10 business days, with no charge for electronic copies |
| Notice of non-emergency medical services offered to the child | Not on the list | Parents told ahead of time |
| Notice when the child is involved in a crime or police contact | Limited to school property and school hours | Not limited to school property and hours |
| Opting the child out of surveys or lessons | Some surveys | Also topics like sexual experiences, family religion or morals, and mental health |
| Rights on enrollment, language help, special education and harassment complaints | On the list | Removed from the list |
Numbers from the official ballot title (ballot title ); also see (snohomishcountywa.gov )
Biggest change
- Repeals the 2025 amendments to the parents' rights law (RCW 28A.605.005) and restores the list as enacted in 2024 by Initiative 2081. source: snohomishcountywa.gov
- Replaces the law's non-discrimination language with an assurance about the sincerely held religious beliefs of the child's family. source: snohomishcountywa.gov
- Supporters say schools would not have to release mental health counseling records when a parent is the subject of a child abuse or neglect investigation. source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
Who it affects most: Parents and guardians of public school students, students, and school districts that must update their rules.
Cost to the state: No effect on state money. School districts may have small costs to update policies; the amount is unknown. It would take effect December 3, 2026.
Our plain-words summary. Every line points to its source.
What your vote means
The 2025 changes are undone: parents get records in 10 business days, notice of medical services, and wider opt-outs, and some 2025 protections are removed.
The parents' rights law stays as lawmakers changed it in 2025.
Our one-line summary. Washington does not publish an official "what your vote means" statement; the ballot title above is the official description.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why this is on the ballot
Voters put this on the ballot by signing a petition. It changes a state law, which lawmakers can later change. It passes with a simple majority of the votes cast on it.
- The measure began as an initiative to the Legislature. The Legislature's majority Democrats did not take it up, so it goes to voters. It revives a 2024 Let's Go Washington proposal that lawmakers changed in 2025; a judge upheld the 2025 law in a court challenge. source: opb.org
Why supporters want it
- The official voters' pamphlet argument for, written by teachers Travis Reep and Tony Harris, Alesha Perkins, La Center School District Superintendent Peter Rosenkranz, Amy Sousa and Jess Grant (Democrats for an Informed Approach to Gender): "Deliberately excluding parents treats them as inherently unsafe without an individualized assessment." source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
- Their rebuttal says the measure "contains zero mandates placing students in danger". source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
- Brian Heywood of Let's Go Washington says the campaign stands for parents being cut out of decisions about their children. source: opb.org
Why opponents object
- The official voters' pamphlet argument against, written by State Sen. John Lovick (D), Roshelle Cleland (Washington Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault), Justin Gill (Washington State Nurses Association), Karen Crowley (League of Women Voters of Washington), Courtney Normand (Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates) and school counselor Jaime Fineman-McKinney: it "ends commonsense protections for child abuse victims whose parents are accused of child abuse and rape". source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
- The same argument says it "forces schools to knowingly put LGBTQ+ kids in increased danger of violence and homelessness", and the rebuttal says it "is so poorly written it would eliminate key existing parental rights". source: sos.wa.gov (Secretary of State)
Who backs each side
- For: Let's Go Washington (Brian Heywood), which reported raising over $1.9 million this year as of June 2026 across its campaigns. Against: No Hate in WA State, which had raised $736,000 in 2026 and more than $400,000 in 2025, with large gifts from the National Education Association and its Washington branch, the ACLU, Gender Justice League and SEIU 775. source: opb.org
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
What you will see on your ballot
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
The official ballot title, word for word from the Secretary of State's 2026 state Voters' Pamphlet (PDF) .
Initiative Measure No. IL26-001 concerns parental rights relating to their children in public school.
This measure would repeal amendments to a statute listing certain rights of parents and guardians of public-school children and re-enact the law as it was originally enacted by Initiative to the Legislature 2081.
Should this measure be enacted into law?
Yes
No
Copied word for word from the Secretary of State's 2026 state Voters' Pamphlet. Washington ballot titles have three parts: what the measure concerns, a short description, and the question.
Latest news
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Full text of the measure
The complete text of the measure is printed at the back of the state Voters' Pamphlet. Read it in the Secretary of State's 2026 state Voters' Pamphlet (PDF) .
Read more
- Secretary of State: 2026 state Voters' Pamphlet (measures, pages 8-22)
- Secretary of State: 2026 ballot measure files
- OPB: battle over the two school measures
- Secretary of State: complete text of IL26-001 (PDF)
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