Trump administration enforces parental rights in schools

The U.S. Departments of Education and Justice issued a joint letter to state attorneys general reaffirming the Trump administration’s commitment to enforcing parental rights in education. The administration warned that school districts must comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), emphasizing that parents have a legal right to access sensitive information regarding their children.

A primary focus of the enforcement effort involves mental health screenings. The administration stated that school officials cannot administer surveys or evaluations used to assess a student's mental health without first notifying parents and obtaining written consent. The departments noted that simply allowing parents to opt out is insufficient.

Additionally, the administration is targeting policies related to LGBTQ+ students, such as the use of preferred pronouns or the creation of gender support plans without parental knowledge. As part of this crackdown, federal agencies announced they are taking action against the Los Angeles Unified School District for policies that allegedly require staff to withhold sensitive information, including a student’s self-professed gender identity, from parents.