politics
Conservative Group Requests Federal Probe of Alaska School Gender Policy
America First Legal has asked the Trump administration to investigate an Alaska school district's policy on student gender identity information. The policy requires staff to use students' legal names and pronouns when communicating with parents, even if different ones are used at school. This follows a recent Supreme Court ruling on parental rights in a similar California case.
Apr 17, 9:47 AM·1m read1 source
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A conservative legal group has requested that federal agencies investigate a policy in an Alaska school district regarding the handling of students' gender identity information. U.S.
The district's policy directs school staff to use a student's legal name and pronouns in communications with parents, regardless of any different name or pronouns the student may use at school.
The group stated that the policy effectively requires staff to present one identity to parents while allowing another at school.
Ian Prior, senior counsel for America First Legal, said the district's policies violate federal law and parental rights. The complaint follows a Supreme Court decision last month that temporarily blocked a California policy preventing school staff from notifying parents about a child's gender transition without the child's consent.
The ruling, in a case brought by parents arguing infringement on religious freedom, was decided 6-3, with the majority stating that such policies cut out parents as protectors of children's interests.
The Supreme Court vacated a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals order that had sided with California.
The three liberal justices dissented from the high court's action. Additionally, the Thomas More Society issued a legal threat last month against the Westwood Regional School District in New Jersey over a comparable policy.
The Hoonah City School District serves K-12 students in a small Alaska community. The Supreme Court's ruling has influenced school districts nationwide, though it directly applied to California.
