In a win for parental rights, the Liberty Justice Center announced today that the State of California has declined to appeal a court decision upholding the Chino Valley Unified School District’s authority to notify parents when their children request changes to their official or unofficial school records.
The decision marks the end of a contentious legal battle that began in 2023 and has drawn national attention to the debate over parental involvement in education.
The case originated in August 2023 when California Attorney General Rob Bonta sued the Chino Valley Unified School District to block its parental notification policy. The policy required school administrators to inform parents if their minor children requested to use a name, pronouns, or facilities that differed from their sex at birth or sought changes to their school records.
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The Liberty Justice Center, a nonprofit public-interest litigation firm, stepped in to defend the district in September 2023, arguing that the policy was constitutional and protected parents’ rights to be informed about their children’s education.
In March 2024, following preliminary rulings by the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, the Chino Valley Unified School District updated its policy. The revised version maintained the requirement that parents be notified within three days if their child requested changes to their official or unofficial records but removed language specifically addressing name, pronoun, or facility requests.
In September 2024, the court ruled that the remaining provisions of the updated policy—requiring parental notification for changes to school records—were constitutional and did not infringe on students’ privacy rights. The court also upheld the legality of the district’s original policy, stating that it did not violate minors’ privacy.
With Attorney General Bonta’s decision not to appeal the ruling by the legal deadline, the case has officially closed, allowing the Chino Valley Unified School District to continue enforcing its updated parental notification policy.
“We are proud to have defended Chino Valley’s parental notification policy and look forward to continuing our ever-expanding legal battle for Californian families’ rights,” said Emily Rae, Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center.
The victory is seen as a significant step in the broader national debate over parental rights in education. Supporters of the policy argue that parents have a fundamental right to be informed about their children’s well-being and decisions made in school settings. Critics, however, contend that such policies could endanger students who may not feel safe disclosing certain information at home.
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The Liberty Justice Center, known for its 2018 U.S. Supreme Court victory in Janus v. AFSCME, has been at the forefront of legal battles to protect constitutional rights. The organization continues to advocate for parents’ rights and hold public officials accountable for overreach, offering its services at no cost to clients or taxpayers.
“This case is about more than just a school policy—it’s about ensuring that parents remain active participants in their children’s education,” Rae added. “We will continue to fight for families across the country who are facing similar challenges.”
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