Latest news with #AB1955
Fox News
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
California school board members praise Trump admin's probe into state allegedly hiding kids' 'gender identity'
Some California school board members are rejoicing after the U.S. Department of Education are looking into the state's effort to curb parental notification policies. "We warned [Gavin] Newsom," Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Board President Sonja Shaw told Fox News Digital. "I am a mother and a school board president, and I have been screaming from every rooftop: parents have the undeniable right to know what's happening with their children, and we will not let Newsom and his bureaucrats cover it up." Shaw's school district passed parental notification policies, which required school officials to inform parents of their child identifying as transgender or looking to change their names or pronouns. This prompted California Attorney General Rob Bonta in 2023 to sue the school district. Other school districts in California followed CVUSD in passing parental notification policies, including the Murrieta Unified School District (MVUSD), Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD), Orange Unified School District, Anderson Union High School District, and Rocklin Unified School District. In January 2024, Bonta warned school districts not to pass what he called "forced outing" policies. President Donald Trump is stepping in after the state of California pushed back against parental rights policies, school board members hope to be vindicated for their efforts. "What we are seeing happening in real time is our president vindicating the efforts of the previous local school boards in California, as the fight against wokeism continues," Dr. Joseph Komrosky, a school board trustee at TVUSD, said. The Department of Education on Thursday launched an investigation into the California Department of Education over alleged violations of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA), citing California's new law AB 1955 that bars schools from so-called "forced outing" policies or disclosing a child's "gender identity" to their parents. FERPA ensures parents have the right to access their children's educational information, and the Trump administration says that includes interactions with school employees pertaining to gender identity and mental health. "Parents continue to have full, guaranteed access to their student's education records, as required by federal law," a spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "If the U.S. Department of Education still had staff, this would be a quick investigation — all they would need to do is read the law the Governor signed." Komrosky said the parental notification policies were to "empower the parents," and "protect the innocence of children by voting in our respective parental notification policies across the state." "Newsom and Bonta have consistently overstepped their jurisdiction by threatening the TVUSD school board in an attempt to control our policies for curriculum and parental notification. We will not back down as elected officials representing the voice of our community," TVUSD Board member Jen Wiersma said. California officials argued that AB 1955 strengthens existing protections against "forced outings" of students, which Bonta claims is "wrongfully and unconstitutionally discriminating against and violating the privacy rights of LGBTQ+ students" in his lawsuit against CVUSD. Shaw said Newsom and Bonta targeted them for implementing "common-sense" policies. "But we refused to back down," Shaw said. "Thanks to the relentless efforts of [Liberty Justice Center,] we fought back—and we won, even in California's courts. Here in Chino Valley, we still have a parental notification policy that they couldn't even get us to rescind, even after weaponizing every aspect to stop us." Shaw referred to LJC declaring victory for parents while representing CVUSD in court with the state of California. Although the court ruling forced CVUSD to revise their parental notification policy, administrators are still required to notify parents about changes to a child's school records. "We took our battle to the federal level by filing claims with the Office for Civil Rights, writing letters to the Department of Education, and alerting President Trump," Shaw said. "Newsom's state education agenda dismisses the voice of parents and undermines the local control we've fought to uphold. Chino Valley USD will continue to prioritize transparency and the rightful role of families in their children's education," Andres Cruz, a CVUSD board clerk, said. MVUSD in November 2024 rescinded their parental notification policy in a 3-2 vote and said that they never implemented it. Board trustees Nick Pardue and Julie Vandegrift voted to keep the policy. "Gavin Newsom used state law to threaten local school districts like ours who tried to protect our parent's Constitutional rights," Pardue told Fox News Digital. "Now that our president has intervened on behalf of parents and local control, he has decided to defy federal law. He is supposed to support and defend the Constitution and obviously disregards that obligation."
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
California school board members praise Trump admin's probe into state allegedly hiding kids' 'gender identity'
Some California school board members are rejoicing after the U.S. Department of Education are looking into the state's effort to curb parental notification policies. "We warned [Gavin] Newsom," Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Board President Sonja Shaw told Fox News Digital. "I am a mother and a school board president, and I have been screaming from every rooftop: parents have the undeniable right to know what's happening with their children, and we will not let Newsom and his bureaucrats cover it up." Shaw's school district passed parental notification policies, which required school officials to inform parents of their child identifying as transgender or looking to change their names or pronouns. This prompted California Attorney General Rob Bonta in 2023 to sue the school district. Maine Universities Agree To Keep Transgender Athletes Out Of Women's Sports After Trump Admin Pauses Funding Other school districts in California followed CVUSD in passing parental notification policies, including the Murrieta Unified School District (MVUSD), Temecula Valley Unified School District (TVUSD), Orange Unified School District, Anderson Union High School District, and Rocklin Unified School District. Read On The Fox News App In January 2024, Bonta warned school districts not to pass what he called "forced outing" policies. President Donald Trump is stepping in after the state of California pushed back against parental rights policies, school board members hope to be vindicated for their efforts. "What we are seeing happening in real time is our president vindicating the efforts of the previous local school boards in California, as the fight against wokeism continues," Dr. Joseph Komrosky, a school board trustee at TVUSD, said. The Department of Education on Thursday launched an investigation into the California Department of Education over alleged violations of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA), citing California's new law AB 1955 that bars schools from so-called "forced outing" policies or disclosing a child's "gender identity" to their parents. FERPA ensures parents have the right to access their children's educational information, and the Trump administration says that includes interactions with school employees pertaining to gender identity and mental health. "Parents continue to have full, guaranteed access to their student's education records, as required by federal law," a spokesperson for California Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "If the U.S. Department of Education still had staff, this would be a quick investigation — all they would need to do is read the law the Governor signed." California School Board President Speaks Out After Receiving 'Death Threats' For Supporting Parents: 'Evil' Komrosky said the parental notification policies were to "empower the parents," and "protect the innocence of children by voting in our respective parental notification policies across the state." "Newsom and Bonta have consistently overstepped their jurisdiction by threatening the TVUSD school board in an attempt to control our policies for curriculum and parental notification. We will not back down as elected officials representing the voice of our community," TVUSD Board member Jen Wiersma said. California officials argued that AB 1955 strengthens existing protections against "forced outings" of students, which Bonta claims is "wrongfully and unconstitutionally discriminating against and violating the privacy rights of LGBTQ+ students" in his lawsuit against CVUSD. Shaw said Newsom and Bonta targeted them for implementing "common-sense" policies. "But we refused to back down," Shaw said. "Thanks to the relentless efforts of [Liberty Justice Center,] we fought back—and we won, even in California's courts. Here in Chino Valley, we still have a parental notification policy that they couldn't even get us to rescind, even after weaponizing every aspect to stop us." Shaw referred to LJC declaring victory for parents while representing CVUSD in court with the state of California. Although the court ruling forced CVUSD to revise their parental notification policy, administrators are still required to notify parents about changes to a child's school records. "We took our battle to the federal level by filing claims with the Office for Civil Rights, writing letters to the Department of Education, and alerting President Trump," Shaw said. "Newsom's state education agenda dismisses the voice of parents and undermines the local control we've fought to uphold. Chino Valley USD will continue to prioritize transparency and the rightful role of families in their children's education," Andres Cruz, a CVUSD board clerk, said. Click Here For The Fox News App MVUSD in November 2024 rescinded their parental notification policy in a 3-2 vote and said that they never implemented it. Board trustees Nick Pardue and Julie Vandegrift voted to keep the policy. "Gavin Newsom used state law to threaten local school districts like ours who tried to protect our parent's Constitutional rights," Pardue told Fox News Digital. "Now that our president has intervened on behalf of parents and local control, he has decided to defy federal law. He is supposed to support and defend the Constitution and obviously disregards that obligation."Original article source: California school board members praise Trump admin's probe into state allegedly hiding kids' 'gender identity'
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Federal investigation targets CA law banning students' gender identity notifications to parents
Federal officials have launched an investigation into the California Department of Education allegedly information about changes to a child's gender identity is being withheld from their parents, due to a state law. Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB1955 into law, prohibiting school districts from requiring staff to notify parents of their child's gender identification change. The law was signed after some school districts passed policies requiring staff to do the opposite. 'This law helps keep children safe while protecting the critical role of parents,' Brandon Richards, a spokesperson for Newsom, said in a statement to the Associated Press. 'It protects the child-parent relationship by preventing politicians and school staff from inappropriately intervening in family matters and attempting to control if, when, and how families have deeply personal conversations.' Huntington Beach sues California over gender identity notification law Officials alleged that AB1955 conflicts with the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act, which gives parents the right to access their children's educational data, the right to seek to have the records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the education records. 'Teachers and school counselors should not be in the business of advising minors entrusted to their care on consequential decisions about their sexual identity and mental health. That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one,' Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. 'It is not only immoral but also potentially in contradiction with federal law for California schools to hide crucial information about a student's wellbeing from parents and guardians. Newsom's press office responded to the investigation with a post on X, reiterating that 'parents continue to have full, guaranteed access to their student's education records, as required by federal law.' Violation of FERPA can result in the termination of an educational entity's federal funding. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
