The New Back-To-School Checklist

Vaccination is a personal medical decision, whether for yourself as an adult or for your family. You have a right to know the risks, benefits, and alternatives before deciding if vaccinations are right for your family. Requirements and exemptions differ by state, and school staff aren’t always equipped to walk you through them.

This questionnaire gives you the tools to advocate for informed consent and your family’s personal medical freedom.

School meal programs vary widely — some districts have moved toward whole foods and clear ingredient labeling; others still rely heavily on processed, packaged meals. You don’t need special expertise to ask what’s on the menu.

School meals often contain GMOs, additives, pesticides, and ultra-processed ingredients. This guide helps you start conversations about nutrition transparency, clean food policies, and access to safer options in your school.

From 5G and other cell towers in close proximity to schools to laptop and tablet use starting in many kindergartens, tech is saturating our children’s learning environments.

This guide gives you five questions about screen-time policy, student data privacy, and campus wireless infrastructure for your child’s teacher or IT department. Learn how to reduce exposure and demand health-conscious tech policies by knowing which questions to ask.

A growing number of schools operate on-site health clinics offering everything from checkups to vaccines and mental health screenings — sometimes without a parent present, depending on state and district policy. This guide gives you five questions about what services are offered, what requires your consent, and how you’re notified.

Parents have a right to know what is being taught to their children and what books are being made available, or even encouraged, in the school library. Ask questions about your choice to opt-out (or whether there is an opt-in) for sensitive curriculum that may not align with your family’s personal values or religious beliefs and what support is offered to students who do not participate in those classes. Also ask questions about what books are available in the library and steps that can be taken to try to ensure that your child is not exposed to materials to which you object. Finally, know your rights with respect to privacy protections under the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment.