For years, government-school officials in some districts — especially under Democrat state governments — have illegally conspired to hide children’s “gender transitions” and other horrors from parents. They cite “privacy.” But now, with national outrage over the transgenderization of children growing, the Trump administration is hitting back.
The U.S. Department of Education is officially investigating multiple state governments for violating federal law. According to federal authorities, the states and districts hiding critical information from parents about their children’s “gender plans” may be in violation of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA).
FERPA was passed in 1974 to protect student privacy while protecting the right of parents to access and correct their children’s educational records. Policies that instruct school employees to hide records from parents infringe on their rights under FERPA, the Department of Education says. Violations can result in a loss of federal funding.
And now, at least two states and potentially other jurisdictions are in the crosshairs of the Education Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO). On March 28, the department announced that California was under federal investigation for passing a statute purporting to prohibit the disclosure of students’ so-called “gender identity” to parents.
“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,” explained McMahon in a statement announcing the investigation. “That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one.”
“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,” she added, noting that her department would “vigorously protect parents’ rights and ensure that students do not fall victim to a radical transgender ideology.”
The day after announcing that investigation, the department announced another probe. Officials in Maine, it said, have been citing “student privacy” as a pretext for hiding “gender plans” from parents. Pointing to state policy, “dozens” of districts have claimed gender plans are not “education records” under FERPA.
“Parents and guardians have the right to access their child’s education records to guide and safeguard their child’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being,” said McMahon, adding that she had recently met with several young people who were de-transitioning. “Any policy to the contrary is both illegal and immoral,”
“It is deeply concerning to hear that teachers and school counselors in Maine are reportedly encouraging and helping students to undergo so-called ‘gender transitions’ while keeping parents in the dark,” she added. “The Trump Administration will enforce all federal laws to safeguard students and families.”
Standing alongside McMahon for the announcement was Parents Defending Education President Nicole Neily. She noted that during the Biden administration, families were having to fight to protect their children from government-backed so-called “sex changes,” a fancy term for hormone injections and surgical mutilation of genitals.
“We are proud to stand with President Trump and Secretary McMahon to hold school districts accountable and ensure no child is socially transitioned behind parent’s backs by teachers or administrators,” said Neily, adding that school officials were often encouraging and facilitating the horrific crimes against children.
The probe into Maine’s policies came after a high-profile spat at the White House between Trump and far-left Democrat Governor Janet Mills. After Trump threatened Maine’s federal funding if it continued allowing males in girls’ sports, Mills replied: “See you in court.” Trump is now demanding a “full throated” apology.
Shortly after the investigations were launched, U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon sent a “dear colleague” letter to state education officials warning of stepped-up federal enforcement of parental rights. She also let state and local officials know that compliance with FERPA requires that parents be informed about “ideological indoctrination.”
“Parents are the most natural protectors of their children,” explained McMahon, warning that federal funding would be cut to states that refuse to comply with FERPA. “Yet many states and school districts have enacted policies that imply students need protection from their parents.”
“These states and school districts have turned the concept of privacy on its head—prioritizing the privileges of government officials over the rights of parents and wellbeing of families,” continued the secretary. “Going forward, the correct application of FERPA will be to empower all parents to protect their children from the radical ideologies that have taken over many schools.”
This writer has spoken to multiple parents whose children have been indoctrinated and confused about their “gender,” all without the parents knowing anything about it. In fact, government schools across the nation have been doing it for years. And when parents resist, they have been smeared, investigated, and more.
Ten years ago, nobody would have believed that government schools would be brainwashing children to believe that they had been born in the “wrong” body, much less that schools would facilitate castrations, mastectomies, puberty blockers, and more behind parents’ back. And yet, it is happening.
Cutting federal funding as a supposed remedy for these abuses does not treat this monstrous scandal with the seriousness it deserves. Those responsible for these crimes against children, parents, and taxpayers ought to be prosecuted and imprisoned as a starting point. In a saner time, they would be.
The fact that there is action in the right direction is a positive development. But how parents can ever trust an “education” system that committed these atrocities to “educate” their children again defies explanation. It is past time for parents to immediately protect their children by removing them from these institutions. Nothing less will do.
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