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Committee advances cleanup to restore PTO access to student directories
Summary
HB21‑93, a cleanup bill to allow parent organizations to receive student directory information unless parents opt out, advanced from committee after parents and PTO leaders described impacts to family engagement and school fundraising.
The House Education Committee voted to give House Bill 21‑93 a due‑pass recommendation after proponents described unintended consequences from last year’s student privacy changes.
Representative Olsen, sponsor of the bill, said HB21‑93 clarifies that parents of enrolled students and representatives of nonprofit organizations that support a school — such as PTOs and PTAs — may receive directory information if a parent or eligible student has not opted out.
Several parent leaders testified in support. Kimberly McClure told the committee she first felt connected to a new school because a PTA email used directory information to link her with another parent. Lauren Tosten, a PTO communications vice president, and Andrea Augustine, a decade‑long PTO volunteer, said limiting directory access has reduced parent engagement and hampered volunteer recruitment and fundraising.
Committee members discussed tightening language to ensure directory data are used only for school‑community purposes; the sponsor said she would be open to amendments. The bill moved forward with a 10‑1‑1 vote.
