Encinitas Union School District settles parental notification lawsuit

The Encinitas Union School District has reached a settlement following a lawsuit brought by parents regarding school materials related to gender ideology. Under the agreement, the district will provide parental notifications and allow families to opt-out before students are exposed to materials that may conflict with religious beliefs.

The legal dispute originated in 2024 after the district used a picture book titled ‘My Shadow Is Pink’ in a fifth-grade classroom. Following a preliminary injunction in May 2025, which ruled that schools cannot compel students to violate their religious consciences, the district abandoned its appeal. The settlement was facilitated by the First Liberty Institute and the National Center for Law & Policy.