Arizona’s largest school district with roughly 55,000 students, Mesa Public Schools, is being accused of helping children “transition” their genders without notifying parents, according to a lawsuit filed last week.
Rachel Walden, a member of the governing board of MPS, accused the Arizona school district of a scheme to bypass state laws requiring parental notification. America First Legal filed the lawsuit last Monday on behalf of Walden.
According to a press release published by AFL, the district has been “encouraging and assisting students to identify as members of the opposite sex without notifying parents.”
“[S]ince at least 2015, MPS has maintained a policy of helping students who want to ‘transition’ their genders. Under this policy, MPS employees ask students whether they want their parents informed about the transition,” the AFL explained. “If students do not want their parents informed, MPS employees are required to keep this information hidden from parents. This policy of parental non-notification used to be explicit and in writing. After controversy arose in the local community about the non-notification policy, MPS revised its written documents to obfuscate the policy.”
The lawsuit accuses MPS’ new policy of “pay[ing] lip service” to state law while “still allow[ing] school employees to talk to students about their sexual identity without parents’ knowledge.” The board “never voted to adopt or authorize” the change, it added.
The AFL’s complaint further charged the school district with coaching students on how to ensure their parents do not find out about their conversations with school staff regarding their sexual identity. Additionally, it grants students the ability to use the locker room and shower facilities that align with their chosen gender identity, the lawsuit claimed.
“The latest version of the policy only requires parental notification after MPS has started helping a student to socially transition in school, and it’s not even clear whether those notifications are really happening,” the AFL explained.
The lawsuit alleges MPS violated Arizona’s Parents’ Bill of Rights and “many other statutes,” including the requirement to notify parents “in advance of … any instruction … or presentations regarding sexuality.”
AFL vice president and general counsel Gene Hamilton stated, “Not only do parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children, but the Constitution and Arizona law forbid the types of policies we are challenging here for our client. School districts like MPS have an obligation to notify parents if their child attempts to identify as a different sex. The people of Mesa are rightly outraged by these radical policies and we will fight for the right of every parent to direct the upbringing of their children.”
Walden’s complaint claims multiple children, including “at least one elementary school student,” were placed on “transition” support plans without parental notification.
In a post on X, Walden wrote, “Teachers and Counselors should NOT suggest putting children on a transgender support plan but that is happening. Parents will not be notified.”
Superintendent Andi Fourlis previously denied that students were being “placed on Transgender Support Plans without parent notification,” Just the News reported.
Fourlis did not respond to a request for comment from the outlet. Jen Snyder, MPS’ director of community and engagement, stated that the district cannot comment on pending litigation. The district’s law firm told Just the News that it did not violate state or federal laws.
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