The House Committee on Education and the Workforce has demanded Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Macquline King provide a comprehensive list of documents by Sept. 11, investigating policies that allow schools to withhold information about students' gender transitions from their parents.
Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich. the committee chair, sent the letter following King's June 10 testimony before the panel. During that hearing, Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill. pressed King on CPS's practice of "socially transitioning children without parental knowledge or consent."
King said, "We do not hide information from parents." But Walberg's letter asserts that several CPS policies contradict that claim, specifically pointing to the district's interim guidelines and a "Gender Diversity Toolkit." Those documents prohibit staff from disclosing a student's "transgender status or gender-nonconforming presentation" without the student's explicit permission, and they do not require parental consent for such non-disclosure.
Walberg expressed concern that this language could actively deter faculty from communicating with parents about their children's gender identity. He also said the policies may conflict with the Supreme Court's decision earlier this year in Mirabelli v. Bonta, which affirmed that parents "have primary authority with respect to the upbringing and education of children."
During the June hearing, Rep. Bob Onder, R-Mo. asked King if CPS had updated its policies to align with Mirabelli. King responded that she "hope[d]" the "parent, the families, the student … and the school would all be in communication."
Walberg noted King failed to specify whether CPS complies with federal law or the Mirabelli ruling despite her claim of adherence to Illinois state law.
The committee's document demand includes complaints from parents and coaches regarding policies that support transgender students, as well as guidance and training materials related to gender and sexuality within the school system. The investigation aims to determine whether CPS policies violate federal law and will inform consideration of potential legislative changes at the federal level.
