Source: Fox News
Summary
Montgomery County Public Schools, one of the largest school districts in the country, is facing allegations that it lets teachers decide if parents are sufficiently “supportive” enough to tell them about their child’s desire to switch genders. America First Legal (AFL) filed a formal complaint against the school district, alleging it has been violating the constitution and other federal law through its “Gender Identity in Montgomery County Public Schools” handbook. The handbook instructs faculty to condition parental involvement on whether a parent is deemed “supportive” enough and to keep gender-related information out of documents federal law allows parents access to.
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As expected, the matter has reached another stage.
The school district’s handbook sets forth policies for students wishing to identify as “transgender” or “gender nonconforming.” The handbook includes a section about developing a “Gender Support Plan” for students to ensure they have “equal access and equal opportunity to participate in all programs and activities at school” and to ensure they are protected from “gender-based discrimination at school.” The plan also includes a section on students’ permanent records, which parents have a right to access under FERPA. The handbook cites students’ privacy and argues that sharing information about a student’s transgender status with parents or guardians is a FERPA violation in and of itself.
The plan effectively states that students can pick which facilities they want to use, including for overnight field trips, and teachers are not allowed to tell parents about it.
The school district’s policies turn the principles of parental rights on their head.
Author: Evan Null
