KING 5 to air Initiative 001 debate Oct. 22

A live debate on Initiative 001, the parental-rights measure that would change how fast schools turn over student records, streams on KING 5 on Thursday, Oct. 22.

The 30-minute debate begins at 2:30 p.m. on the free KING 5+ app and at KING5.com/watch. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal will argue against the initiative. Travis Reed, a teacher and parent, will argue for it.

What the measure would change

Initiative 001 would restore provisions of the 2024 Parents' Bill of Rights, originally passed as Initiative 2081, by repealing changes the Legislature made in 2025 through House Bill 1296.

The most concrete shift for Bellevue School District families: schools would have 10 business days to hand over a child's textbooks, curriculum and medical records after a parent's request, according to the Bellingham Herald. Under the current law, districts have up to 45 days. The Herald reported that the 45-day window was written to align with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The initiative would also restore parental access to mental health counseling records and require schools to notify parents before providing medical services to their child, according to KING 5.

If voters approve the measure on Nov. 3, the Legislature could not alter it for two years unless lawmakers secured a two-thirds majority.

The arguments on each side

Supporters say the 2025 legislative changes weakened parents' ability to stay informed about their children's education and health. Hallie Herzberg, a spokesperson for Let's Go Washington, the political action committee behind the initiative, told the Spokesman-Review in a Sept. 22 report that "001 essentially just reinstates the protections and provisions for families …"

Opponents, including Gov. Bob Ferguson, the Washington Education Association (WEA) and the ACLU of Washington, say the measure could put vulnerable students at risk. They argue that requiring disclosure of sensitive counseling, health or LGBTQ+ identity information could discourage students from seeking help for mental health challenges or abuse, according to KING 5.

The two sides also disagree on how the initiative handles crime notification. Ferguson has said the initiative "removes a parent's rights to be immediately notified when their child is a victim of a crime at school," according to the Spokesman-Review. Herzberg disputed that claim, saying the initiative "removes those barriers" to notification.

The state Voter's Guide notes the initiative would remove a specification that parents be notified when a crime occurs on school property during school hours. It would also remove a right to immediate notification when a child is alleged to be the victim of abuse by a school employee, the Spokesman-Review reported.