A California judge has temporarily halted a measure that advocates said was aimed at sending trans and non-binary students to live with their parents in a school district.
The San Bernardino Superior Court on Wednesday struck down Chino Valley Unified’s new policy regarding children who identify as transgender or gender non-conforming.
In August, Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he would take legal action against the SoCal district for violating the rights of LGBTQ+ students.
“We have filed an injunction against the Chino Valley Unified School District’s illegal and dangerous coercive education policy,” Bonta announced on X.
The “parental notification” policy immediately came under fire because it would have resulted in staff reporting an LGBTQ+ child to their parents if they changed their pronouns.
In August, Attorney General Rob Bonta (pictured) announced he would take legal action against the SoCal school district for violating the rights of LGBTQ+ students
CVUSD Board President Sonja Shaw — one of the policy’s biggest supporters — said she is committed to ensuring the policy remains in effect
During a Chino Valley Unified School District meeting in June, more than 80 members of the public spoke out against the forced disclosure policy
On August 28, Bonta announced he would be filing a lawsuit against the Chino Valley Unified School District regarding its “parent notification” policy.
In a statement, Bonta said the injunction “upholds the state rights of our LGBTQ+ student community and protects children from harm.”
He said they would continue to challenge the policy in court and provide “unwavering support” so that every school district “promotes safety, privacy and inclusivity.”
“While this fight is far from over, today’s ruling represents a significant step toward ensuring the physical, mental and emotional well-being of transgender and gender non-conforming students,” Bonta’s statement said.
The issue will next be discussed again at a hearing on October 13.
In July, the county school board held a meeting to adopt the controversial policy, which ultimately passed 4-1.
The “Parental Notification” policy requires staff to “out” transgender and gender non-conforming students to their parents or guardians without their consent.
In Bonta’s lawsuit, the AG alleged that the policy would compensate students against their express wishes.
At the school board meeting earlier this year, dozens of community members held signs and flags to speak out against the forced disclosure policy.
“We have filed an injunction against the Chino Valley Unified School District’s illegal and dangerous coercive education policy,” Bonta announced on X
Pictured: Members of the Chino Valley United School District
Under the policy, Chino Valley schools would notify parents in writing within three days if district staff determine that a student is requesting to be identified or treated as a gender other than that listed on official records.
Parents will also be notified if students participate in gender-segregated activities or use restroom facilities that do not correspond to their stated gender.
The policy also outlines steps for schools to notify parents of injuries or threats to their children, as well as suicide attempts.
Anthony De Marco, an attorney for Chino Valley Unified, told ABC 7 that the policy would not impact students who had private conversations with teachers.
“We need these parents to be part of a successful transition,” De Marco said.
In August, Andi Johnston — a spokesman for Chino Valley Unified — said the district was working with its attorneys to review the lawsuit.
Johnston also said they followed state officials’ instructions and sent documents requested in response to a subpoena.
Proponents of the “parental notification system” say it’s not about outing students, but rather about protecting parents’ rights.
CVUSD Board President Sonja Shaw — one of the policy’s biggest supporters — said she is committed to ensuring the policy remains in effect.
“We will protect the rights of parents,” Shaw said in a statement. “This is a constitutional right and we will make sure our parents in Chino Valley know that they are sending their children here to be educated and not to be something else.”
When the lawsuit was first filed, Shaw said she wasn’t surprised because the state government had repeatedly taken steps “to exclude parents from their children’s lives.”
“We’re going to stand firm and protect our children with everything we can because we’re not breaking the law,” Shaw told ABC 7.
“Parents have a constitutional right to the education of their children.” Period.”