Anxiety regarding parental rights in American healthcare and education is at an all time high. Our panel will discuss questions such as, “Are parental rights being circumvented at the schoolhouse and medical office doors?”; “Who decides the best interest of the child?”; “When should the state’s judgment supersede parents’ judgment?”; and “Who determines the parental right to know?”
Featuring:
Luke Berg, Deputy Counsel, Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
Thomas M. Fisher, Solicitor General, Indiana Office of the Attorney General
Emilie Kao, Senior Counsel, Vice President of Advocacy Strategy, Alliance Defending Freedom
Moderator: Hon. Matthew W. McFarland, United States District Judge, Southern District of Ohio
Policymaker interest in alternatives to traditional public schools has sharply increased post-pandemic, with some states considering and adopting proposals to provide educator regulatory relief; increase access to charter schools; offer additional vouchers and tax credit programs; and create education savings account options to increase choice in education. Optics on professions in education have been challenging. Many of these proposals address the number of religious schools in school choice programs, which has led to both new legislation and litigation. Panelists will survey relevant proposals and developments in the midwest while considering the perspective of stakeholders in the field.
On his first day in office, President Biden signed Executive Order 13988 directing federal agencies to “promulgate new agency actions, as necessary to fully implement statutes that prohibit sex discrimination” so as to prevent discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. In response, the Department of Education issued subregulatory guidance interpreting Title IX to safeguard the rights of transgender students to participate on sports teams and use facilities of their choice, regardless of biological sex. It then proposed rules that both formalize that interpretation and truncate the due process rights of those accused of sexual assault or harassment on college campuses. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture promulgated a rule enforcing Title IX and the Food and Nutrition Act by prohibiting SOGI discrimination by schools participating in federal school lunch programs. In this panel, attorneys from the Midwest will discuss significant recent cases challenging these regulatory efforts.
Featuring:
Karen Celestino-Horseman, Of Counsel, Austin & Jones, P.C,
Josh Divine, Solicitor General, Missouri Office of the Attorney General
Benjamin A. Flowers, Solicitor General, Ohio Office of the Attorney General
Corrine Youngs, Policy Director & Legislative Counsel, Indiana Office of the Attorney General
Moderator: Hon. Mark S. Massa, Justice, Indiana Supreme Court
