Parental Rights on the Docket at the Supreme Court: Today, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Mahmoud v. Taylor, a landmark case to determine whether schools can prevent parents from opting their children out of sensitive courses and material. During oral arguments, several Supreme Court Justices seemed sympathetic to parental rights, while other Justices argued that allowing parents to opt out of certain curriculum for religious reasons could create issues moving forward, allowing parents to opt their kids out of any curriculum. American Parents Coalition Executive Director Alleigh Marré explained in her op-ed in Real Clear Education that parental rights should not be optional and activist school administrators or board members should not be allowed to erode parental authority. A final decision in the case will likely be made this summer.
The Facts: In 2022, the Montgomery County Board of Education in Maryland announced the introduction of more than 20 “inclusivity” books for pre-K through eighth grade classrooms. Instead of focusing on age-appropriate concepts, many of the books promote themes surrounding gender and sexuality ideology including pride parades, gender transitioning, pronoun preferences for children, and more.
In Maryland and most states across the country, schools offer parental notification with the ability to opt-out for certain curriculum, but in March 2023, the Montgomery County School Board issued a statement saying it would no longer notify parents or honor requests to opt-out of the “inclusivity” book program.
Following this flagrant disregard of parental authority, a coalition of parents began to protest. Despite their vastly different backgrounds, these parents agree that they should be deciding if their children are exposed to gender ideology, not school administrators or elected officials.
Bottom Line: Parental rights do not end the moment a child walks onto the school bus or through the classroom doors. As activist School Administrators and Board members ignore or actively try to erode parental rights and authority, we are thankfully seeing an uprising of parents fighting back. Parents have the right to direct the upbringing of their children to include opting out of material that pushes specific ideologies on children. The U.S. Supreme Court should make this clear in its decision.
Visit: www.RestoreTheOptOut.com for more information related to Mahmoud v. Taylor from Becket.
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OTHER NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW
DOJ SUES MAINE FOR ALLOWING BIOLOGICAL MALES IN GIRLS’ SPORTS: The Department of Justice is suing the state of Maine for refusing to follow Title IX as restored by President Trump’s executive order. Maine school officials allowed a biological male to take a girls’ state championship title—and now they may face the consequences. Read more here.
RILEY GAINES WARNS STATES TO COMPLY WITH TITLE IX OR FACE CONSEQUENCES: Riley Gaines is sounding the alarm on states like California and Minnesota for allowing boys in girls’ sports—despite clear federal rules to stop it. Read more here.
GOP SENATORS CALL ON STATES TO PROTECT WOMEN’S SPORTS: Republican Senators Jim Risch and Tommy Tuberville are urging governors to enforce Trump’s executive order and block biological males from competing in girls’ sports. Read more here.
VIRGINIA SCHOOLS FACE FEDERAL SCRUTINY OVER PARENTAL RIGHTS COMPLIANCE: The U.S. Department of Education is cracking down on Virginia schools that may be violating parental rights laws like FERPA and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment. Districts could lose federal funding if they don’t shape up. Read more here.
Thanks for reading the latest edition of the American Parents Coalition’s The Lookout. If you have a troubling story to share about a school, doctor, company, or other institution working to usurp parents’ rights, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected].
