Parental+Rights+in+Colorado+-+Nina+Bishop

Parental rights are broadly protected by Supreme Court decisions (Meyer and Pierce), especially in the area of education, so why not in our Colorado state statutes? The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that parents posses the “//fundamental right” to “direct the upbringing and education of their children//.” Furthermore, the Court declared that “//the child is not the mere creature of the State: those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right coupled with the high duty to recognize and prepare him for additional obligations//.” (Pierce v. Society of Sisters, 268 U.S. 510, 534-35) The Supreme Court criticized a state legislature for trying to interfere “//with the power of parents to control the education of their own//.” (Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390, 402.) In Meyer, the Supreme Court held that the right of parents to raise their children free from unreasonable state interferences is one of the unwritten "liberties" protected by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. (262 U.S. 399). In recognition of both the right and responsibility of parents to control their children’s education, the Court has stated, //“It is cardinal with us that the custody, care and nurture of the child reside first in the parents, whose primary function and freedom include preparation for the obligations the State can neither supply nor hinder.//” (Prince v.Massachusetts, 321 U.S. 158)

//“For calculating performance, non-participant data are not counted as zeroes – they are excluded from the calculation... So the calculations are performed on the basis solely of students that took the test and had valid scores on it.”// –**Jo O’Brien, Assistant Commissioner of Standards, Colorado Department of Education** **(I believe this is person works for you!)**

//Students who do not test, including those who do so due to parental refusal, are counted as non-participants when determining participation rates for state and federal accountability purposes.”// –**Jo O’Brien, Assistant Commissioner of Standards, Colorado Department of Education**

“Parental refusal is only an explanation of why the student did not test.” –**Glen Sirakavit, CSAP Senior Consultant, Colorado Department of Education** Thank you for your interest. Nina Bishop
 * //“School academic performance ratings (SAR) will no longer be assigned for Colorado schools. **The Education Accountability Act of 2009 (SB 09-163)** repealed previous SAR law. **Negative weights for Unsatisfactory and No Score percentages are not in effect anymore.”**// --Angela Engel, Family Leadership Training Institute Facilitator, Policy Advisor, past Denver school teacher and administrator