What are your kids studying in schools? SC wants to increase parental control

South Carolina parents would have more power over what students learn in school under a bill passed nearly unanimously by House lawmakers. Teachers violating its provisions —such as withholding information of a kid’s gender identity — could lose their certificate or face termination.

It’s a broad effort to expand “parental rights” in the state, advocates say. It would give parents a chance to oversee public education curriculum, older teenagers’ health care choices and their own children’s biometric data. House Republicans backing the effort said parents’ ability to make decisions about their children’s healthcare is a “fundamental right.”

“This bill draws a clear line,” said state Rep. Sylleste Davis, R-Berkeley. “Parents, not government agencies, have the primary authority to direct their children’s upbringing, education and health care.”

The proposal would ban public employees, including teachers and counselors, from withholding any information about a child’s health from a parent, but the bill specifies that includes “any request by a child to be treated in a manner that is inconsistent with his or her sex.”

Dena Crews, the president of The South Carolina Education Association, said the bill is unnecessary. Teachers are mandated reporters and have to report when a child’s health could be at risk, she said. But students also may tell teachers something in confidence, and Crews said it should be up to the child to tell their parent about their gender. Crews teaches in an elementary school in the Pee Dee.

“Having those conversations, a parent and their child, talking to them, letting their child know that they can trust them, that they’re going to love them at the end of the day, no matter what, is what needs to take place, and removing educators from that piece of it,” Crews said. “We should not be the ones that are going to parents saying ‘your child told me that they this, or I think they’re acting a certain way.’”

Pope said the bill was prompted by “extreme stories of teachers going rogue.” He said “extreme cases,” like when a teacher does not tell a parent about a child’s gender identity, prompted the bill.

“Then we need to delineate the parents’ rights, so that’s the genesis of where this started for me,” Pope said.

Parents would also be able to review all course work and curriculum for classes their child is enrolled in, or plans to enroll in. Instructors will also need to seek parental permission days in advance to teach anything related to sexual orientation, gender or gender roles. It will also give parents the chance to withdraw students from instruction on specific topics. Last month, individuals against the proposal said they were worried the requirements would be overly burdensome for teachers.

Crews said parents already had access to the state’s standards and could typically review syllabuses and materials during parent teacher conferences.

“Requiring schools to post all curriculum materials online and provide in-person review during limited hours might create administrative challenges,” Crews said. “And it could lead to some mistrust if a parent wants to come in at a certain time and the school may not be able to do it at that time. We don’t want parents thinking, ‘Oh, what are they trying to hide?’”

School employees couldn’t be sued personally if they break this proposed law, even when it’s intentional. But parents could still sue the school if their right to control their child’s education was violated. The teacher could be subject to dismissal or revocation of their certificate.

State Rep. Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, said that would protect teachers while also maintaining the parental rights. She said educators would have to act maliciously in order to face consequences.

The parent would also have to go through the complaint procedures at the school district and education department before going to court.

Changes in store for teens’ healthcare decisions

Democratic lawmakers voted for the measure after they made key changes on health care, particularly giving children more rights when they are in abusive situations.

“I do not want any misconceptions that I’m supportive of the bill,” state Rep. Courtney Waters, D-Charleston, said after the vote. “But we did have to honor the collaboration and the work because we rarely see that here in the State House.”

Democratic lawmakers, including Waters, state Reps. Wendell Jones, D-Greenville, and Spencer Wetmore, D-Charleston, were able to make several changes to the power children had over their health care Wednesday.

The bill would require parents to sign off on medical care for their 16- and 17-year-olds, except for emergencies or first aid. Right now, older teenagers can make their own health care decisions at 16. But a cleared compromise allows a parent to sign off on their child’s doctor giving medical care without permission.

“We made the bill better,” state Rep. Roger Kirby, D-Florence, said after the vote.

Another two changes allowed kids who had parents suspected of abuse to receive medical care without permissions from their guardians. If a mandated reporter reports abuse, the state Department of Social Services or a court order could allow a child to receive necessary health care.

“It’s taking the opportunity for a parent or a guardian who’s actually perpetrating the abuse to hinder a child actually receiving any sort of testing or examination that they need,” Waters said after the vote.

The bill will need approval from the Senate and governor before becoming law.

This story was originally published February 20, 2026 at 5:00 AM.