Everett Public Schools families will decide whether counselors and teachers must share student records with parents in more situations when Initiative 001 appears on the Nov. 3 ballot.

Gov. Bob Ferguson urged voters to reject the measure at a Thursday, Sept. 17, news conference. Ferguson said I-001 is "taking away parents' rights," not strengthening them. State Sen. John Lovick, a Mill Creek Democrat and former Snohomish County sheriff, joined Ferguson in opposing the initiative, which he called "the most anti-parent rights initiative I think we'll ever see."

I-001 would restore the original text of Initiative 2081, a parental rights measure the Legislature adopted in 2024. Democratic lawmakers rewrote portions of that law in 2025, according to the Seattle Times, citing problematic provisions. Let's Go Washington, the political action committee founded by Brian Heywood, gathered 418,666 signatures to put the rollback before voters.

What would change

Under current law, schools can withhold a student's healthcare and social work records from a parent or legal guardian during child-abuse investigations or criminal proceedings. I-001 would keep the withholding provision for healthcare records during abuse investigations but would drop protections for social work records, legal guardians and criminal proceedings.

The initiative would also shorten the deadline for schools to respond to parental records requests from 45 to 10 business days. It would require schools to notify parents before a student receives non-emergency medical or counseling services on campus.

Current law requires parental notification when a school receives a report that a child was the victim of a crime at school. I-001 would change that trigger to when a crime is "deemed to have been committed."

Opponents warn of harm to vulnerable students

Ferguson said I-001 is "flying under the radar" because other ballot measures have drawn more attention. Critics say the measure would force school counselors to share sensitive information with unsupportive or abusive parents and discourage LGBTQ+ students from seeking help at school.

Lovick, who served 31 years as a state trooper before becoming Snohomish County sheriff, wrote in a Sept. 4 Daily Herald opinion piece that the initiative would remove parents' right to immediate notification when a child is a victim of sexual abuse and would allow parents under investigation to access victims' records without a subpoena.

The WA State Parent Teacher Association (PTA), Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault, Washington State Nurses Association and Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates all oppose I-001.

Supporters say parents deserve access

Heywood called the opposition claims false. "The arrogance of this press conference and of what they're saying is breathtaking," he told Fox 13 Seattle. "Everything they said was not true."

Sherri Larkin, a Snohomish School Board member and 44th Legislative District Senate candidate, wrote in a Sept. 14 Daily Herald opinion piece that I-001 "restores parents as partners in their children's education while maintaining protection for children who may be at risk." Lovick currently holds the 44th District Senate seat.

Let's Go Washington accused critics of trying to "scare voters away from a measure that was passed with bipartisan support in 2024." The initiative is endorsed by the Washington State Young Republicans and Moms for Liberty Washington.

Everett Public Schools has not taken a public position on I-001. Voters will decide the measure on Tuesday, Nov. 3.