''It's a guilty until proven innocent law," is how Ned Holstein, Chair of the Board of Fathers & Families, described the law that made it next to impossible for non-custodial parents to access to their children’s school records. Until as recently as April 2005 the law in Massachusetts required non-custodial parents to show school administrators written proof, through court records or affidavits, that they posed no danger to their former spouse or child in order to see their child's educational records. A non-custodial parent is typically a divorced or unmarried father who does not have joint physical custody of his child.

With great tenacity, Fathers & Families member Hank Fassler dug into the old law, and convinced the feds that the Massachusetts law was inconsistent with federal law. This started the chain of events culminating in our success. Along the way, Fathers & Families successfully fought off determined efforts by domestic violence advocates such as Jane Doe, Inc. and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute to maintain restrictions against a vast swath of non-custodial parents. In this, we were helped by the good sense and steadfast support of Representative Patricia Haddad, Senator Robert O’Leary, and Senator Robert Antonioni.

Governor Romney recently signed the report card bill into law, formerly known as SB 2206. Now, almost all non-custodial parents will have the right to receive a broad range of school records concerning their kids, including report cards. Fathers are determined to regain their rightful place with their children. Individually, and in organizations, we are fighting back, and we are winning. And Massachusetts state law is now inline with applicable Federal standards.