WASHINGTON — Washington voters appear to be rejecting Initiative 001 that would expand parents’ rights to students’ medical and mental health records.
As of Thursday morning, 53% of Washington voters rejected the initiative, while just over 47% supported it.
Opponents of the law said it would threaten students’ privacy by giving parents access to records kept confidential between students and school counselors.
“The defeat of Initiative 001 means students throughout Washington will continue to have access to vital mental health resources at school without fear of their private conversations being disclosed without their consent. The initiative, had it passed, would have disrupted the critical relationships students have with school counselors they rely on in moments of need,” ACLU of Washington Executive Director Michelle Storms said in a statement Thursday.
If passed, the law would give parents back the right to be notified when their child received mental health services and to opt out of sex education or other school lessons and activities due to “family beliefs.”
Videos made by the conservative political action committee Let’s Go Washington promoting the initiative argued that parents should be informed if their child asks educators to call them by a different name or use different pronouns to address them at school.
Opponents of the initiative argued this move would invade student privacy and prevent them from confiding in teachers and other school employees.
“Young people deserve safe school environments with trusted people they can confide in. We hope that with voters’ rejection of I-001, Washington can focus on solutions that support students, not make their lives more difficult,” Storms said.
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