Parents’ Rights—and Opportunities
What rights do you have as a parent in the TVUSD, and how can you be more involved in your child’s education?
When the new School Board Trustees Komrosky, Wiersma, and Gonzalez were elected in November 2022, their campaigns emphasized two important ideas: parental rights and parent involvement. Their campaign literature implied that parents of children in Temecula public schools have few rights, little control over what their child learns at school, and few chances for involvement.
Is that true? Let’s take a look.
Parents’ rights in the TVUSD
Probably the first thing to understand is that TVUSD is a public school district. Because it’s public, the district is subject to the laws of the State of California. Most California State laws regarding schools are in the Education Code, often referred to as Ed Code.
Education Code 51101 lays out the rights of parents and guardians of pupils in public schools. For example, parents and guardians must be allowed to observe classes or meet with teachers and principals after reasonable notice. They must be allowed to volunteer in their child’s school, to examine curriculum, and to have access to student records. Ed Code 51101 lists other rights as well.
To meet these legal requirements, TVUSD Governing Board Policies and Administrative Regulations define how you as a parent can exercise your rights and be involved in your child’s education.
Knowing your rights
Ed Code requires that parents be notified each year about their legal rights and responsibilities with regard to their children’s education. The TVUSD’s official parent/guardian annual notification document (available in English and Spanish) is a long one, covering everything from ACCEPTABLE USE OF TECHNOLOGY to WALKING OR RIDING A BIKE TO SCHOOL.
As an example of what’s in the document, here is the statement about sex education (page 10): “EXCUSE FROM HEALTH, FAMILY LIFE AND SEX EDUCATION: (E.C. 51240) Upon written request of a parent, a pupil may be excused from any part of instruction in health which conflicts with the parent(s)’ religious training or beliefs (including personal moral convictions).” [The E.C. number here refers to the Ed Code section.]
This TVUSD official notice to parents is a lengthy legal document, but we encourage you to skim all 27 pages and read the items that apply to you and your child. Here are several you may want to check:
Choosing your child’s school: attendance alternatives (page 5) and Open enrollment (page 16)
College admission requirements (page 6)
Parent custody issues (page 7)
Directory information about your child and how to opt out of disclosing it to third parties (page 7)
Information for immigrants and programs for English Learners (page 8), Language acquisition program (page 15), Graduation requirements (page 15)
Sex education and how to opt out (page 10, and quoted above)
Foster children (page 11)
Disabled pupils (page 13)
Gun safety (page 13)
Immunization (page 14)
Internet safety (page 14)
National school lunch program, including how to apply (page 16)
Cyberbullying (page 17) and School safety: Bullying (page 21)
Pesticide products used at school facilities (page 17)
Pupil records, including your right to access, challenge, and file a complaint about them (page 19)
Suspension or expulsion (page 22)
Uniform complaint procedure (page 25)
Prescription opioids information sheet and form for student athletes (26)
Control over what your child learns
In addition to your control over your child’s sex education (quoted above), Ed Code requires that you be able to inspect all “primary, supplemental instructional materials and assessments” and observe classes and activities if you request it in advance. (EC49091.10)
If you disapprove of learning materials your student has, you should immediately discuss it with the teacher and, if necessary, with the school principal. Board Policy 1312.2, Complaints Concerning Instructional Materials, states, “Parents/guardians are encouraged to discuss any concerns regarding instructional materials with their child's teacher and/or the school principal. If the situation remains unresolved, a complaint may be filed using the process specified in the administrative regulation.” (See Administrative Regulation 1312.2.)
You can also request an alternative reading assignment for your student by submitting a form to the school (also in AR 1312.2).
You should not go to an individual Board member with a complaint. Board Policy 9200 limits Trustee authority: “Individual Board members do not have the authority to resolve complaints. Any Board member approached directly by a person with a complaint should refer the complainant to the Superintendent or designee so that the problem may receive proper consideration and be handled through the appropriate district process.”
Resources for parent involvement
You have several ways to follow what’s happening in the public schools, know how your student is doing, and be involved in the school district. None of these ways is new this year; they have all been in place for some years.
What’s happening in the district
TVUSD Community Connection newsletters are emailed to you. Anyone can sign up to receive these, btw; you don’t need to be a parent to find out about day-to-day activities in the district.
On Instagram, you can follow tvusd.official and tvusd.parentcenter for quick posts.
The district website contains information about facilities, enrollment, transportation, security and safety, after-school programs, school board meetings, and so much more.
How your student is doing
TVUSD provides online portals for parents and students, with information available in English and Spanish:
Infinite Campus: Review grades, track assignments, check attendance and schedules, see school announcements. Contains your student’s official grade records. Available as an app or a website.
Seesaw: For grades K-5, see student assignments, student work, and class announcements. Also you can message the teacher with any comments or questions. (You can send messages in a language other than English, and Seesaw translates for both you and the teacher.) Available as an app or a website.
Canvas: For grades 6-12, see course materials, assignments, and grades. Communicate with teachers. Available as an app or a website.
More ways to be involved
Trust us, the TVUSD would love to see more volunteers involved in the schools. Here’s an overview guide for parental involvement. And here are some specific ways you can help:
Volunteer to help in your child’s (or grandchild’s) classroom or school. Volunteers are background checked and welcomed by the district and teachers.
Join the PTA for your child’s school, any school, multiple schools, or the district-wide PTA Council—and volunteer to help with school events, provide supplies for school clubs, offer student scholarships, oversee the Reflections Art Program, and much more. Contact your child’s school to get started.
Join a committee at the school site or at the district level to help assess needs, guide programs, and determine how funds should be spent.
For the following school site committees, contact the school for information:
Community Advisory Partnership (CAP) – Each school site has a separate CAP. For example, here is information about the Helen Hunt Jackson Elementary School CAP.
School Site Council (SSC) – Each school site has its own SSC, for example Temecula Elementary School SSC.
English Learner Advisory Committee (ELAC) – Each school site has a separate ELAC, for example Nicolas Valley Elementary School ELAC.
For these district committees, contact the district office for information:
Citizen Oversight Committee
Now it’s up to you
As a parent, you can be as active as you wish in your child’s education. Having reviewed the rights and opportunities listed here, do you believe the campaign statements of Komrosky, Wiersma, and Gonzalez were correct? And have they kept their campaign promises and improved parents’ rights?