MAHOPAC- Two members of the Mahopac Board of Education have introduced a “Parents’ Bill of Rights” proposal aimed at strengthening transparency, parental involvement, and communication between families and the school district.
Trustees Tanner McCracken and Nicole Iacono described parents as “not obstacles to education but the foundation for it.”
The duo believes that parents have a first right to the upbringing of their children.
McCracken noted: “We want to send a clear message that in Mahopac, parents will be respected, informed, and treated like true partners in the educational process.”
Iacono added: “Parents should never feel like they need to fight for basic transparency involving their child’s education. Our bill is about trust, accountability, and making sure families once again have a strong voice in our schools. When parents and schools work together openly and honestly, our kids are the ones who benefit the most.”
The Parents’ Bill of Rights includes ten key protections and expectations for parents and guardians that Putnam’s largest school district would have to guarantee including: The right to timely information about academic progress, attendance, and behavior; the right to review curriculum frameworks, syllabi, and instructional materials; the right to visit schools and communicate with educators; the right to participate in educational decisions impacting their child; the right to challenge library books and establish parental checkout permissions and the right to transparency and participation in special education services and planning.
The proposal also includes provisions requiring greater curriculum transparency, detailed scope and sequence access for parents, and advance notice for guest speakers in K-5 classrooms.
McCracken, who will be leaving the school board at the end of the month since he is seeking a seat on the Putnam Legislature in November, added: “In Mahopac, we believe parents deserve a seat at the table — not a seat in the dark.”
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