Six California school districts have recently passed parental notification policies that require schools to notify parents and guardians if a student asks teachers to refer to them by a different gender or name, or if they use a bathroom or program that does not align with the gender on their official records. The districts include Rocklin Unified School District, Orange Unified School District, Temecula Valley Unified School District, Anderson Union High School District, Murrieta Valley Unified School District, and Chino Valley Unified School District. Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District adopted a parental notification policy that would notify parents if a student posed a “clear and present danger” to themselves or others. The policy does not contain the words “gender identity” or “transgender,” but opponents have expressed fears that schools might use the policy to out transgender students against their wishes.
The September edition of Education Matters reported that Attorney General Rob Bonta has filed a lawsuit asking the San Bernardino County Superior Court to overturn Chino Valley Unified School District’s new parental notification policy. The Attorney General argues that the District’s policy violates anti-discrimination laws and violates students’ civil rights and constitutional rights to privacy. The judge ordered the District to temporarily stop enforcing the new policy and litigation is ongoing.