Bill Overview
Title: Parents Need to Know Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires local educational agencies to establish procedures for schools to provide (1) timely notification, including by calls and texts, to parents about certain threats, unlawful acts, or significant emergencies that occur on school grounds, during transportation for school sponsored-events, or during school-sponsored activities; (2) a plan to address, mitigate, or correct any risks to students associated with these acts or emergencies; and (3) an annual notice to students, parents, and employees describing the notification procedures required by the bill.
Sponsors: Rep. Crist, Charlie [D-FL-13]
Target Audience
Population: Parents and guardians of school-aged children, school-aged children themselves, and school employees
Estimated Size: 100000000
- The bill primarily impacts parents of school-aged children since the notifications and procedures involve informing parents of certain threats or emergencies occurring during school-related activities.
- School-aged children's wellbeing is directly impacted as the bill's provisions are intended to protect them by notifying their parents swiftly in case of emergencies.
- School employees, including teachers and administrative staff, are involved as they are part of the communication chain and may have responsibilities under the bill's required procedures.
- The procedures and notifications affect local educational agencies and schools that need to implement and maintain these systems.
Reasoning
- The Parents Need to Know Act primarily impacts families with school-aged children and school employees. Therefore, a large portion of the estimated 100 million American target population consists of these groups. The policy might not be as relevant to people without school-aged children or those not working in schools.
- The potential benefits include better communication and faster parental involvement during school emergencies, possibly improving the sense of security and wellbeing for both students and parents. However, the impact may vary based on socioeconomic factors, local school resources, and the effectiveness of policy implementation.
- The budget will need to cover the cost of technology improvements, staffing for increased communication tasks, and training for existing staff to carry out the new protocols across thousands of schools. The initial budget could limit the speed and scope of implementation, potentially affecting the immediate perceivable benefits among the target population.
- Wellbeing scores may increase over time as the policy becomes fully implemented and trust in the system grows. Initial disruption or concerns about privacy and effectiveness could moderate immediate wellbeing improvements.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 32 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I appreciate the increased focus on communication with parents. Knowing that my children's school can reach me quickly in an emergency is reassuring.
- However, I am concerned about how much extra work this might mean for teachers.
- The success of this policy will depend on how well it's implemented and communicated.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
School Administrator (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm optimistic about having structured protocols to inform parents during emergencies. It could significantly enhance trust within the community.
- Setting up these procedures is a logistical challenge, but it's necessary for student safety.
- Our school will need to carefully allocate resources to ensure this doesn't divert attention from other important areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Stay-at-home parent (Chicago, IL)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a parent, my biggest fear is not knowing about an emergency in time. This policy gives me peace of mind.
- I hope the schools can handle this effectively and it doesn't just become another bureaucratic process.
- I worry a bit about where the funding will come from and whether education quality might suffer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Software Developer (New York, NY)
Age: 27 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't have school-aged kids, but I see the benefit for families who do. Anything that improves safety and communication is good.
- As someone not directly impacted, my life probably won't change much with this policy.
- I hope schools use technology smartly to implement it smoothly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
School Bus Driver (Miami, FL)
Age: 53 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- As a bus driver, it's crucial to have a clear plan for emergencies. This bill is a step in the right direction.
- I’m concerned about implementing new procedures without extra pay.
- Overall, it's necessary for students' safety during transport.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Nurse (Seattle, WA)
Age: 41 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Knowing that my child's school will contact me promptly in emergencies offers me some comfort as a working parent.
- I hope these measures don't bypass what's really important, like mental health support at school.
- Real change depends on the commitment of both the schools and parents to engage with these protocols.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
IT Specialist (Denver, CO)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm neutral about this policy because I don't have children in the school system.
- However, I'm glad to see that technology might be playing a role in making schools safer for kids.
- Policies like this could lead to jobs or contracts in the tech sector.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
School Counselor (Austin, TX)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill could definitely help in managing crisis situations better, especially when collaborating with parents.
- It might take some adjustment to implement fully and effectively, but it is worth the effort.
- Having a clear plan makes everyone feel safer, which can only benefit students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
College Student (Salt Lake City, UT)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My sibling's safety is important, and this policy seems to prioritize that.
- In my studies, we discuss the implications of such policies on educational environments.
- While I'm not directly affected now, I may be in the future as an educator.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Farmer (Rural Idaho)
Age: 48 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy seems more suited for urban areas with reliable internet.
- I'm worried my family might not benefit as much because of connectivity issues.
- I hope there will be alternative communication methods for us.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $225000000 (Low: $180000000, High: $270000000)
Year 2: $220000000 (Low: $175000000, High: $265000000)
Year 3: $215000000 (Low: $172000000, High: $258000000)
Year 5: $210000000 (Low: $168000000, High: $252000000)
Year 10: $200000000 (Low: $160000000, High: $240000000)
Year 100: $150000000 (Low: $120000000, High: $180000000)
Key Considerations
- Long-term cost estimates may vary significantly due to technology advancements impacting communication systems.
- Variability in implementation costs across states and districts should be considered, given differing budgets and technological baselines.
- The success of risk mitigation and response plans can influence long-term efficiencies and cost reductions.