In statehouses across the country, Parent Trigger legislation is being proposed as a remedy to the nation's education crisis. These laws authorize parents--through a petition drive at their child's school --to force their school district to convert that public school into a charter, replace its staff and leadership, or even close it down. Supporters of Parent Trigger laws argue that they empower parents, giving them the ability to force dramatic changes to improve low-performing schools. Critics argue that the laws do not give real, sustained power to parents; that the interventions authorized through Parent Trigger have no track record of actually improving schools; and that the laws are being used to privatize public schools through chartering. This brief reviews the history and current status of Parent Trigger legislation, presents a critique of the legislation, and suggests alternative ways to meet the stated goals of a Parent Trigger.