News and Events => Education news => Topic started by: Jessica_Rose on January 29, 2026, 10:17:35 AM Return to Full Version
Title: Education Department says CA must allow schools to forcibly out trans students
Post by: Jessica_Rose on January 29, 2026, 10:17:35 AM
Post by: Jessica_Rose on January 29, 2026, 10:17:35 AM
Education Department says California must allow schools to forcibly out trans students
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/01/education-department-says-california-must-allow-schools-to-forcibly-out-trans-students/
Daniel Villarreal (29 Jan 2026)
The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) accused the California Department of Education (CDE) of violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) — a federal law granting parents the right to access their child's education records — by prohibiting schools districts from notifying parents if their child requests to use pronouns and facilities different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
In a statement released by Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Wednesday, she accused CDE of "egregiously" abusing its authority by "pressuring school officials to withhold information about students' so-called 'gender transitions' from their parents."
"Children do not belong to the State—they belong to families," she added. "We will use every available mechanism to hold California accountable for these practices and restore parental rights."
The statement specifically mentions the SAFETY Act — the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today's Youth law — a 2024 law that prohibits forced outing "parental notification" policies in school districts. The law protects teachers and administrators from retaliation if they choose not to follow district directives to out queer kids to their parents. It also funds resources for parents and families of queer students to facilitate supportive conversations about their identities on terms that make the children feel safe and respected.
McMahon accused CDE of sharing "strategies to target minors and conceal information about children from their own families," claiming the CDE put at least 300 students on "Gender Support Plans," affirming students' gender identities and personal pronoun use "without parental consent or knowledge."
https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2026/01/education-department-says-california-must-allow-schools-to-forcibly-out-trans-students/
Daniel Villarreal (29 Jan 2026)
The U.S. Department of Education's (ED) Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) accused the California Department of Education (CDE) of violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) — a federal law granting parents the right to access their child's education records — by prohibiting schools districts from notifying parents if their child requests to use pronouns and facilities different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
In a statement released by Education Secretary Linda McMahon on Wednesday, she accused CDE of "egregiously" abusing its authority by "pressuring school officials to withhold information about students' so-called 'gender transitions' from their parents."
"Children do not belong to the State—they belong to families," she added. "We will use every available mechanism to hold California accountable for these practices and restore parental rights."
The statement specifically mentions the SAFETY Act — the Support Academic Futures & Educators for Today's Youth law — a 2024 law that prohibits forced outing "parental notification" policies in school districts. The law protects teachers and administrators from retaliation if they choose not to follow district directives to out queer kids to their parents. It also funds resources for parents and families of queer students to facilitate supportive conversations about their identities on terms that make the children feel safe and respected.
McMahon accused CDE of sharing "strategies to target minors and conceal information about children from their own families," claiming the CDE put at least 300 students on "Gender Support Plans," affirming students' gender identities and personal pronoun use "without parental consent or knowledge."