Bill Overview
Title: PROTECT Kids Act
Description: This bill requires elementary and middle schools, as a condition of receiving federal funds, to obtain parental consent under specified circumstances. Specifically, an elementary school or a school consisting of only grades 5-8 must obtain parental consent before (1) changing a minor child's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form; or (2) allowing a child to change the child's sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms.
Sponsors: Sen. Scott, Tim [R-SC]
Target Audience
Population: School-aged children and their parents or guardians worldwide
Estimated Size: 100000000
- This bill primarily impacts school-aged children, particularly those in elementary and middle school, spanning typically ages 5-14.
- It also affects custodial parents or guardians of these children, as they are required to provide consent for certain actions.
- This legislation is specific to the United States as it involves conditions for U.S. federal funding for schools.
- The bill targets schools that receive federal funding, which includes a vast number of public schools across the country.
- The primary purpose of the bill is related to gender identity and the rights of parents to be involved in decisions at schools concerning their children's gender representation.
Reasoning
- This policy primarily affects parents and guardians of school-aged children in elementary and middle schools, particularly in decisions related to their children's gender identity as expressed in school records.
- The policy's requirement for parental consent could have varying impacts, potentially alleviating or increasing stress levels depending on personal beliefs and family dynamics.
- It's important to recognize that the vast majority of U.S. schools are public and receive federal funding, meaning this policy could have broad applicability.
- The budget constraints, such as $20 million in the first year, imply that additional administrative costs should be managed within existing funds, potentially limiting the subsequent direct outreach or educational programs to parents and schools in the initial rollout.
- Children and parents ignoring or unaffected by gender-related identifiers won't perceive this policy as impactful, though they are technically part of the target group.
Simulated Interviews
Student (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 12 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm glad my parents will be involved in deciding these things; it makes me feel supported.
- But sometimes I worry they won't understand or support the choices I want to make about my gender identity.
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 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Software Engineer (Houston, TX)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe parents should have a say in how schools address these sensitive topics with children.
- This policy is a good step towards transparency and involvement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 10 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Teacher (Denver, CO)
Age: 38 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry that this policy might discourage students from expressing themselves at school if their parents are not supportive.
- While understanding the need for parental consent, I fear it might hinder students' confidence and comfort.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 6 |
Student (Chicago, IL)
Age: 14 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I feel it's important for my parents to be involved, but I want them to trust my judgment as well.
- This policy might make it harder for some students at my school who don't feel safe talking about this at home.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Psychologist (New York, NY)
Age: 36 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I see both sides; some parents will benefit from this policy, while others may not grasp the nuances of their children's needs.
- It's essential to consider how teachers support students under this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
School Administrator (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The implementation will require additional resources for training and communication with parents.
- While the idea is to protect parental rights, it places administrative pressure on schools.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Non-profit Worker (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Policies like these can prevent kids from feeling safe and supported if they lack family acceptance.
- There might be an increase in youth seeking alternative resources outside of school for support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 4 |
Retired Teacher (Miami, FL)
Age: 60 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've seen changes in school policies over the years, and each comes with its own set of challenges.
- It's vital that changes like these are communicated clearly to all parties involved so they can work.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 9 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 9
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 20/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I don't really understand much about it, but my parents say it's good to talk about things together first.
- If it makes them happy, it makes me happy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 2 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Journalist (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy furthers the discussion about parent versus school roles in education.
- It's crucial to balance the protection of children's rights with parental involvement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 6 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $20000000 (Low: $15000000, High: $25000000)
Year 2: $18000000 (Low: $13000000, High: $23000000)
Year 3: $17000000 (Low: $12500000, High: $21500000)
Year 5: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 10: $12000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $16000000)
Year 100: $5000000 (Low: $3000000, High: $7000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy enforces administrative tasks on schools that could be costly in terms of time and resources to ensure compliance with parental consent requirements.
- Resistance or acceptance by school administrations and parents could affect implementation costs.
- A uniform implementation strategy across states could mitigate costs.