# California parental rights legal dispute

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/california-parental-rights-legal-dispute
> Updated: 2026-09-05T18:55:09.000Z. Sources: 6. Developments: 2.

A legal dispute in California, Mirabelli v. Bonta, centers on parental rights regarding school gender policies. The case challenges California’s “Parental Exclusion Policies,” which allow schools to socially transition students’ gender without informing their parents.

While a U.S. District Judge previously issued a permanent injunction against these policies, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals stayed that injunction. However, the U.S. Supreme Court later vacated the stay in a 6-3 decision. In response, a coalition of 17 states, lawmakers, and advocacy organizations filed 12 friend-of-the-court briefs urging the 9th Circuit to uphold the rights of parents and teachers to be informed about students. California continues to appeal, maintaining that parents lack a right to know about a child’s gender identity unless they specifically request the information.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-05: Coalition urges 9th Circuit to uphold parental rights in California case

A coalition of 17 states and advocacy groups is urging the 9th Circuit to uphold parental rights regarding school gender policies in California.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/coalition-urges-9th-circuit-to-uphold-parental-rights-in-california-case

### 2026-08-21: California parents petition Supreme Court over religious homeschooling rights

California parents have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling that allows the state to reject religious materials in state-funded homeschooling programs.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/california-parents-petition-supreme-court-over-religious-homeschooling-rights

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Cite as: California parental rights legal dispute. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/california-parental-rights-legal-dispute