Free-Range Win.

• Author: Skenazy, Lenore
• Position: Parent protections - Free-range kids legislation - Brief article

WHEN PRESIDENT Obama signed the Every Student Succeeds Act in December, he was also signing into law the first federal free-range kids legislation. An amendment added by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) states that "nothing in this Act shall...prohibit a child from traveling to and from school on foot or by car, bus, or bike when the parents of the child have given permission; or expose parents to civil or criminal charges for allowing their child to responsibly and safely travel to and from school by a means the parents believe is age appropriate."

The provision doesn't preempt state or local laws, so there's still wiggle room for governors or municipal leaders to criminalize parents who trust their kids to walk to school (or who sleep through them...