Student Rights Protection Act (draft)

Protecting the Unalienable Rights of Colorado’s Students in Accordance with the Constitution, Truth, and Moral Law

SECTION 1. TITLE

This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “Student Rights Protection Act.”

SECTION 2. PURPOSE AND FINDINGS

WHEREAS, the Declaration of Independence affirms that all people are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness;

WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, the right to peaceably assemble, and the right to petition the government;

WHEREAS, students do not surrender their constitutional rights upon entering the schoolhouse gate (Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, 393 U.S. 503 (1969));

WHEREAS, the natural rights of children are secured not by the State, but by divine endowment and protected under the Constitution through their guardians, families, and local communities;

WHEREAS, education must not become a tool of ideological coercion, but must serve the ends of truth, virtue, civic understanding, and moral development;

WHEREAS, it is the solemn duty of this State to preserve the liberties of students from censorship, compelled speech, ideological discrimination, or unjust administrative overreach;

THEREFORE, BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF COLORADO:

SECTION 3. DECLARATION OF STUDENT RIGHTS

The State of Colorado shall recognize and protect the following rights of all students enrolled in public schools, charter schools, and any institution receiving public funds:

A. Freedom of Speech and Expression

1. Every student shall have the right to express their thoughts, opinions, religious beliefs, or philosophical views, provided such expression does not materially disrupt the educational environment.

2. No student shall be compelled to speak against their beliefs, participate in ideological exercises, or endorse messages contrary to conscience.

3. Students shall retain the right to pray, read Scripture, or engage in voluntary religious expression during non-instructional time.

   
   

B. Academic Freedom and Inquiry

1. Students shall have the right to pursue truth in academic settings without fear of ideological retaliation or grade discrimination.

2. Instructional materials shall present historical and civic content accurately, without distortion of the American Founding or the Constitution.

3. No student shall be penalized for using religious or moral reasoning in assignments, provided it is relevant and academically supported.

   
   

C. Right to Conscience and Belief

1. Students shall not be required to participate in or affirm political ideologies, sexual or gender ideologies, or activist causes as a condition of learning or graduation.

2. Opt-in provisions must be available for families who object, on moral, religious, or philosophical grounds, to content that contradicts their convictions.

   
   

D. Privacy and Dignity Protections

1. Students shall have the right to privacy in restrooms, locker rooms, and changing areas based on biological sex.

2. Students and families shall be notified of any psychological, social, or identity-based intervention by school officials, and consent shall be required for participation.

   
   

E. Equal Protection from Discrimination

1. No student shall be harassed, marginalized, or treated with hostility for holding or expressing religious, moral, or political beliefs.

2. Schools shall foster an environment of respect and civility for all viewpoints rooted in lawful and peaceful expression.

   
   

SECTION 4. SCHOOL DISTRICT REQUIREMENTS

Each Colorado school district shall:

1. Publish a Student Rights Handbook clearly outlining the rights enumerated in this Act;

2. Provide training to educators and administrators on the lawful protection of student rights and responsibilities;

3. Establish clear and accessible grievance procedures for students and families who believe rights have been violated;

4. Ensure that disciplinary policies are applied fairly and do not penalize constitutionally protected expression.

   
   

SECTION 5. ENFORCEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

1. A student, parent, or legal guardian may file a civil claim against a school or school district that violates the rights protected by this Act.

2. The Colorado Department of Education shall maintain a public record of complaints, corrective actions, and outcomes regarding violations of student rights.

3. No public funding shall be withheld from students who choose to attend institutions that uphold and honor these rights.

   
   

SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of this Act is found to be unconstitutional or unlawful, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 7. EFFECTIVE DATE

This Act shall take effect on (Date), and shall apply to all public educational institutions in the State of Colorado beginning in the (Date) academic year.

“The most sacred of the duties of a government [is] to do equal and impartial justice to all its citizens.” Thomas Jefferson

“The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws.” Noah Webster

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)