Skip Navigation
Schools Students Deserve Educating with Equity Student Support
Bargaining Strong Contracts Legal Defense Educator Advocacy Rights Workforce Crisis Mediation Network
Facilitators Core Programs Independent Study Eye on Equity Podcast I HEAR Summit
Action Center New from OEA
Mission, Vision, & Core Values Our Commitment to Equity Our Leadership Governance & Policies Our Members
We use cookies to offer you a better browsing experience, provide ads, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. If you continue to use this site, you consent to our use of cookies.
NEA Legal & Employment Guidance

What are Educator Rights with Parent and Community Complaints?

Here’s what teachers and school support staff should do when faced with complaints from parents and community members.
empty classroom from the back of the room
By: National Education Association
Published: April 5, 2023
This resource originally appeared on NEA.org

As part of their efforts to intimidate educators and censor classroom discussions, some states have established ways for parents to complain about educators directly to the state government or district officials, either by phone, email, or submission of an online form.

In Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin created a tip line for parents to report teachers for teaching so-called “divisive practices.” This process bypassed conversations at the local level and was designed to try to intimidate teachers. Eugene Daniel, Virginia Education Association: Gov. Youngkin’s tip line to report ’divisive practices’ is designed to intimidate teachers, 13 News Now (Jan. 26, 2022), https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/norfolk/virginia-governor-glenn-youngkin-school-tip-line-criticism/291-af50154d-ab59-41f1-97a8-bb909fbbd845. Go to reference But after less than a year the tip line was shut down because it was not receiving many complaints. Scott Simon & Ben Paviour, A ’tip line’ championed by Virginia Gov. Youngkin last year has been quietly shut down, NPR (Nov. 5, 2022), https://www.npr.org/2022/11/05/1134514204/a-tip-line-championed-by-virginia-gov-youngkin-last-year-has-been-quietly-shut-d. Go to reference

In states or districts that do not have a designated tip line, parents or community members may reach out to school officials directly to report concerns about educators. These complaints may include concerns about specific classroom discussion topics, course materials, or available books, especially those relating to race or LGBTQ+ identities.

If you become aware of a complaint against you, contact your union representative for advice about the next steps to take. It may be important to connect with counsel early on to get advice on how to speak to your principal or other administrators about the issue to avoid or minimize disciplinary action.

Keep in mind throughout the complaint resolution process NEA’s guidance on avoiding political advocacy at work and how to teach within the bounds of recent anti-honesty in education laws.

This page is intended to provide general information. For specific advice, you should always contact your local union or attorney. 

Speak Up For Students and Public Schools

When we act together and lift our voices together in unison, we can improve the lives of children.
Broken pencils

Together, we will claim victories for public education

Join thousands of your fellow Oregon educators in contributing monthly to OEA-PAC and make your voice heard!
Oregon Education Association logo

Keeping the Promise of Quality Public Education

The Oregon Education Association (OEA) is a union committed to the cause of providing the basic right of great public education to every student. OEA represents about 41,000 educators working in pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public schools and community colleges. OEA’s membership includes licensed teachers and specialists, classified/education support professionals (ESPs), community college faculty, retired educators, and student members. OEA members also belong to the 3.2 million members of the National Education Association (NEA).
About us
Join OEA

The Oregon Education Association is a state affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), the nation's largest professional employee organization. NEA has affiliate organizations in every state and in more than 14,000 communities across the United States.

Learn more at NEA.org