Day 77: Watching her bill become law

Carly Flandro | 03/22/2023

State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield scored a major legislative win today as she saw her far-reaching parental rights bill signed into law.

House Bill 163 asserts that parents are “primary stakeholders” in education. Specifically, the law ensures parents have access to education and health records; requires parental consent for student well-being surveys; and ensures “reasonable access” for parents to visit a school.

Critchfield also recorded a public service announcement for National Week of the Young Child, which is April 1-7. She taped the PSA for Idaho Public Television.

She spent the rest of her day in meetings — a first full day back in Idaho after a trip to Washington, D.C., where she was attending the annual Council of Chief State School Officers conference.

Carly Flandro

Carly Flandro reports from her hometown of Pocatello. Prior to joining EdNews, she taught English at Century High and was a reporter for the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. She has won state and regional journalism awards, and her work has appeared in newspapers throughout the West. Flandro has a bachelor’s degree in print journalism and Spanish from the University of Montana, and a master’s degree in English from Idaho State University. You can email her at [email protected] or call or text her at (208) 317-4287.