Ant Thornton, a senator from New Mexico, has called for schools to notify parents about potentially age-inappropriate materials and emphasized the need for transparency in educational content. This statement was made on the social media platform X.
"We need to keep parents informed of potentially age inappropriate material in the school from reaching their kids," said Anthony Linn Thornton, New Mexico State Senator from 198th District (R).
New Mexico's 2024 Parental Bill of Rights Act has reignited discussions regarding school transparency and parental oversight. The legislation requires school districts to publish curricula, inform families when K–3 students underperform in reading or language arts, and disclose guest speakers in classrooms. According to Source New Mexico, the law is supported by conservative lawmakers as a measure against ideological bias. However, critics argue it could negatively impact inclusive education and marginalize LGBTQ+ students.
The text of New Mexico’s 2024 Parental Bill of Rights Act mandates that all school districts ensure public access to instructional materials, notify parents about off-grade-level reading proficiency in early grades, and identify any outside speakers who visit classrooms. These requirements represent one of the most comprehensive legislative efforts in the state to formalize parental access to educational content.
Between 2020 and 2025, over 30 U.S. states introduced or passed legislation aimed at increasing parental authority in education. These laws often require curriculum transparency and allow parents to opt students out of instruction involving gender identity, race, or sexual orientation. Wikipedia notes that these measures are part of a broader wave of conservative-backed "parental rights" laws affecting K–12 policies nationwide.
Wikipedia also provides background on Anthony "Ant" Thornton, identifying him as a Republican state senator representing New Mexico’s 19th District since 2025. Before his political career, Thornton worked as an aerospace engineer and executive at Sandia National Laboratories, where he became the lab’s first Black director. He brings a technical policy background to the legislature with a focus on disciplined governance and educational reform.
