Federal officials have launched an investigation into the California Department of Education allegedly information about changes to a child’s gender identity is being withheld from their parents, due to a state law.
Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB1955 into law, prohibiting school districts from requiring staff to notify parents of their child’s gender identification change.
The law was signed after some school districts passed policies requiring staff to do the opposite.
“This law helps keep children safe while protecting the critical role of parents,” Brandon Richards, a spokesperson for Newsom, said in a statement to the Associated Press. “It protects the child-parent relationship by preventing politicians and school staff from inappropriately intervening in family matters and attempting to control if, when, and how families have deeply personal conversations.”
Officials alleged that AB1955 conflicts with the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act, which gives parents the right to access their children’s educational data, the right to seek to have the records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the education records.
“Teachers and school counselors should not be in the business of advising minors entrusted to their care on consequential decisions about their sexual identity and mental health. That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one,” Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. “It is not only immoral but also potentially in contradiction with federal law for California schools to hide crucial information about a student’s wellbeing from parents and guardians.
Newsom’s press office responded to the investigation with a post on X, reiterating that “parents continue to have full, guaranteed access to their student’s education records, as required by federal law.”
Parents continue to have full, guaranteed access to their student's education records, as required by federal law.
If the U.S. Department of Education still had staff, this would be a quick investigation — all they would need to do is read the law the Governor signed.
NOTE:… https://t.co/uWAwfQOGPN
— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) March 27, 2025
Violation of FERPA can result in the termination of an educational entity’s federal funding.
