This weekend, I made a mistake. I reposted information about a bill that had just passed out of the Washington state Senate without first verifying whether it was accurate. The post included several bullet points that, in hindsight, were not factual descriptions of the bill itself but rather concerns about what could happen under the bill’s original language.
As it turns out, many of those provisions were amended or removed by the Senate. I should have done my homework, and I take responsibility for that.
But the conversation doesn’t end there.
Even with those amendments, there are still two bills moving through the Legislature — Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1296 and Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5181 — that raise serious concerns for me and many other parents in our community. These bills reflect a broader trend of the state stepping further into the space that has historically belonged to families, and pushing parents out of critical decisions in their children’s lives.
Let me be clear: I have deep respect for the educators in Lewis County. I’ve seen firsthand the incredible work they do — teachers who go far beyond the textbook to support and encourage students. These are professionals who care about our kids not just as students, but as people. But I was disheartened this week to see a number of teachers defending these bills, and even more troubled by how they did it.
One educator went so far as to imply that I, as a parent, am too dumb to understand the bill. That’s not just offensive — it’s concerning.
We should never normalize the idea that parents are a barrier to a child’s success, or that our opinions are invalid simply because we don’t work in the education system. Being a parent isn’t a credential — it’s a calling. It’s a commitment. And it’s a right that must be protected.
Let’s talk about what these bills actually do.
HB 1296 seeks to “promote a safe and supportive learning environment” for all students, a goal we all support. But within that goal are provisions that could have the unintended consequence of locking parents out of crucial conversations. The bill allows schools to withhold a student’s counseling or medical records from parents if the parent is under investigation for abuse or neglect — even before any charges are filed or any wrongdoing is proven. Due process matters, and we can’t allow policy to assume guilt before it’s established.
SB 5181, meanwhile, makes sweeping changes to what was originally called the “Parents’ Bill of Rights.” One of the most concerning changes is the removal of parental notification for non-emergency medical services provided at school. That means a child could receive care — whether medical, mental health or otherwise — without their parent ever being informed. This isn’t just a technical tweak. It’s a fundamental shift in who gets to make decisions about a child’s health.
Even more troubling is that the bill removes a parent’s right to sue the school district if their rights are violated. In other words, not only could your rights be diminished — you may not even have legal recourse to push back.
Supporters of these bills say they are about protecting student privacy and safety. But at what cost? Protecting children and respecting parents are not mutually exclusive. We can do both. We should do both.
Yes, there are children who come from broken or abusive homes. We absolutely need safeguards for those students. But that’s what Child Protective Services, law enforcement and mandated reporters are for. We have entire systems in place to intervene when necessary — and I support them fully. But cutting parents out entirely, even in the name of protection, often makes these situations worse, not better. I can speak from experience. When the system keeps parents in the dark or assumes they’re the problem without evidence, it fractures families even further and erodes trust on all sides.
This is not about politics. This is about parenting.
As a father, I want to be involved in my child’s education — not just in homework and report cards, but in the deeper issues that shape who they become. I want to know if they’re struggling emotionally, if they’ve been hurt, or if they’re making choices that require guidance. And I want to be able to have those conversations with the support of their school, not in spite of it.
Parents should be allies — not adversaries — in our education system. When legislation makes it easier to keep parents in the dark, that’s not progress. That’s a step backward.
So yes, I posted something too quickly. I owned that. But don’t mistake a hasty post for a lack of conviction. I care deeply about protecting the role of parents in our children’s lives. And I’ll keep raising my voice when I believe that role is under threat.
Because at the end of the day, no one loves, protects or knows a child better than their parent.
Let’s not forget that.
•••
Sean Swope, a Republican, is a Lewis County commissioner representing District 1. He is a father of four children.
