In January, fifth-grader Aminah Hilaire was named student of the month at A. Philip Randolph Elementary School in Atlanta. Her parents couldn't attend the recognition breakfast because they couldn't take time off from work.

Her disappointment prompted Aminah to attend a rally at the Capitol this week with 300 other schoolchildren to urge passage of House Bill 901, the Parent Protection Act, which would enable parents to take a few hours off to attend school functions.

"Having a parent present at school during a function or in class has social, emotional and educational benefits," said Aminah. "Just seeing my family's face in the crowd puts my mind and heart at ease. If you support the Parent Protection Act, more parents will be able to attend their children's events at school, which will make the children and parents happy."

A modest bill, HB 901 requires employers to allow employees up to 24 hours of unpaid leave a year to attend school activities or handle routine medical appointments for their children or their aging parents. Today, that flexibility does not exist for many cashiers, store clerks and other minimum-wage earners who often resort to calling in sick themselves to deal with family responsibilities.

Despite two hearings that drew a broad band of supporters, HB 901 is languishing in a House Industrial Relations subcommittee. The committee chair, state Rep. Mike Coan (R-Lawrenceville), has failed to hold the critical vote on the legislation necessary to keep it alive this session. It appears the bill got caught in the horse trading that occurred over the controversial tax bills.

"It's completely unfair to children and families to hold this bill hostage to political wrangling," says Cindia Cameron, organizing director for Atlanta 9 to 5, a working women's advocacy group.

It's also contrary to the Legislature's repeated calls for more parental involvement in the schools. Gov. Sonny Perdue is proposing a $14.25 million program to entice parents to become more active in their children's schools. This law would complement his efforts.

The state will be well-rewarded by those few hours of flexibility for parents. Pediatricians report that many children fail to get their immunizations on time because their parents can't leave their jobs. If more children are immunized, the entire state benefits in enhanced health care.

Some legislators contend that parental leave imposes mandates on businesses, but the law has no compunction about imposing mandates on parents. Parents must show up for meetings with student support teams and special education reviews. They must attend dropout-prevention counseling and discipline hearings.

The state ought to be willing to help parents meet those responsibilities without risking their jobs.

—- Maureen Downey, for the editorial board (mdowney@ajc.com)