The U.S. Department of Education has opened investigations into multiple school districts accused of hiding students’ gender transitions from their parents, according to an exclusive report by The Daily Wire. The probes target districts in New Mexico and Pennsylvania where policies allegedly prevented staff from informing parents about their children’s gender identity changes.
Districts Under Scrutiny
Albuquerque Public Schools and Santa Fe Public Schools in New Mexico, along with Pine-Richland School District and Pennsbury School District in Pennsylvania, are all facing federal scrutiny. Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the alleged behavior “abhorrent” and vowed to uphold parental rights.
“Policies designed to conceal or hide the most sensitive information about a child’s well-being not only violate federal law but also educators’ moral obligation to let parents be the first decision-makers in their child’s lives,” McMahon told The Daily Wire.
Alleged Policy Violations
In New Mexico, investigations stem from claims that districts followed policies preventing staff from sharing information about students’ gender identities with parents. Albuquerque Public Schools reportedly blocked a social worker from informing parents about a child’s gender identity under a directive requiring schools to use preferred names and pronouns while keeping such information off permanent records.
Santa Fe Public Schools allegedly asked students for preferred names and pronouns without parental knowledge and created “gender support plans” that included forms explicitly stating teachers wouldn’t inform parents. Some forms even asked children what pronouns to use when parents were present.
Pennsylvania Cases
In Pennsylvania, Pennsbury School District allegedly helped a girl present as a boy for three years without her parents’ knowledge, maintaining records and communications reflecting a male identity. The district reportedly violated its own policy requiring parental involvement in record changes by creating a “separate, false identity” for the student.
Pine-Richland School District faces a joint investigation with the Justice Department for allegedly providing taxpayer-funded “gender transition teams” and directing staff to help students transition without parental consent. The district reportedly required schools to base names, pronouns, bathroom access, and sports participation on gender identity rather than biological sex.
Legal Consequences
The investigations, led by the Education Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office, will examine potential violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). Violations could result in loss of federal funding.
This action follows October letters from the Education and Justice Departments reminding state attorneys general about these federal protections. The Trump administration has made parental rights in education a key priority, with McMahon promising to “bring parents out of the dark” regarding their children’s wellbeing in schools.
Source: www.dailywire.com โ https://www.dailywire.com/news/exclusive-trump-admin-blows-lid-off-claims-schools-hid-child-gender-transitions