Parents Have Power — 22 Power Points

22 Points of Power For Parents in WASD

1. Review and Know the key Idaho state and federal laws and Supreme Court decisions that promote & protect your parental rights in Idaho. Click link.

2. Review and Know who has the highest priority and control over sex-education (click) content for your child in Idaho. Answer: Parents.

3. Review & Know how to challenge an inappropriate book in a Your Child’s Elementary & Secondary school library for Reconsideration and Removal:

4. Review & Know online what library books at your school currently have content that would clearly meet Idaho’s definition of “harmful to minors” (18-1514, section 6):

  • WASD, Click to view the table at the bottom of this page link.
  • All Other School Districts, click here.
  • For a list and reviews of top “Harmful to Minors” books, click www.ratedbooks.org.

5. Review & Know how to challenge a current Textbook for Reconsideration and replacement (if you feel it is warranted):

  • WASD, Click to view table at the bottom of this page link.
  • BSD, No page link found, just Textbook Adoption (policy 2511). Call BSD (208) 854-4000 office for info (208-854-4176  – Jodie Mills)
  • NSD, No page link found, Adoption Procedure 2540P, call NSD Office (208) 468-4600, and ask for the person serving as the District’s Head of Curriculum and Instruction.
  • CSD,  No page link found, call CSD Office (208) 455-3300 and ask for the person serving as the District’s Head of Curriculum and Instruction.
  • VSD, No page link found, call VSD Office (208) 454-0445 and ask for the person serving as the District’s Head of Curriculum and Instruction.

6. Review & Know how to contact and thank your child’s teacher for promoting your child’s academic excellence:

  • WASD: 1) Locate Your Child’s School at https://www.westada.org by clinking “Schools” drop-down button, 2) Select School, 3) Locate the “Contact Us” button on school’s webpage, 4) Select the correct “Grade”, and 5) Locate the Teacher’s email address.
  • For Other School Districts’ please call your district office for information.

7. Review & Know how to contact and communicate with your child’s teacher, school principal, administration, or your zone’s trustee to discuss a concern (but follow the proper protocol):

  • WASD: 1) Please follow The Grievance & Escalation Policy, 203.03, 2) Click here for Administration contacts, 3) for specific schools and teachers, follow: a) Click www.westada.org, b) Click “Schools” drop-down button, c) Select School, d) Locate the “Contact Us” button on school’s webpage, 3) Select the correct “Grade”, and f) Locate the Teacher’s email address.
  • For Other School Districts’ please call your district office for information.

8. Review & Know all your school & educational options available to you:

  • Idaho Click
  • West Ada School District After clicking, under the “SCHOOLS” dropdown button (on the top menu bar), select “Schools of Choice” to identify your additional school options.
  • For Other School Districts’ please call your district office for information.

9. Review & Know the process on how to request “alternative material” study materials for your child regarding classroom “Supplemental Learning Resource” that you may oppose:

  • WASD: “A district parent or guardian has the right to request a reasonable alternative supplemental learning resource for his/her child. No district parent or guardian has the right to determine learning resources for students other than his or her child(ren). ” See Policy 602.21

10. Review & Know the Idaho Content Standard to establish what academic content is required and what is not (by grade and subject).

11. Review & Know your district’s Curriculum Standard for your child (by grade & subject):

12. Review & Know how to identify newly proposed Textbooks and Library books that are going through the review process for approval:

  • WASD: Proposed Library Books For new Text
  • For Other School Districts’ please call your district office for information.

13. Review & Know where to find all of your School District’s policies and some of the key ones most related to parents:

14. Review & Know how to locate every library book in your child’s school library via the online database:

  • WASD: 1) Click Link, 2) Select School from Dropbox, 3) Click “Catalog” (if necessary).
  • All Other School Districts: 1) Click Link, 2) Select “Idaho” as State, 3) Input & Search for your Specific School, 3) Click “Go!”.

15. Review & Know how the “academic performance” of your District compares with other Idaho school districts and other states:

  • USA v. World: Click
  • Idaho v. USA: Click
  • WASD v. Idaho: Click
  • For Other School Districts’ please call your district office for information.

16. Review & Know the names of three USA private organizations (click) that push new books to public school libraries with content that probably violates your family’s values.

17. Review & Know about the recent rise in gender dysphoria (ROGD) (click) among youths and one of the probable causes.

18. Review & Know some of the key parental resources available to support parents and their children regarding educational and family-value rights.

19. Know how easy it is to complete a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and get your questions answered:

  • WASD Full online process.
  • BSD Email form to publicrecordsrequest@boiseschools.org 
  • NSD Click
  • CSD Click
  • VSD Click

20. Review & Know to what degree U.S. public schools are contributing to the pre-sexualization of children.

21. Review & Know what the Board of Trustees’ responsibilities are, when and where they meet, and how to find scheduled Broad meetings:

22: Review & Know that you are not alone, but that there are many resources and organizations available to help you, along with PA-TV.

23: Review & Know the political, religious, and 1st Amendment rights of your child in the public school system.

24. Review and Know how to access free legal services, should any of your or your child’s State, Federal, or Constitutional rights be violated.