In a landmark victory for parental rights in California, Attorney General Rob Bonta has chosen not to appeal a court decision that upheld key portions of the Chino Valley Unified School District’s parental notification policy. This decision effectively ends the state’s legal challenge against the district and marks a significant shift in the battle over parental rights in public schools.
The legal battle began in August 2023 when Chino Valley Unified became the first school district in California to implement a parental notification policy. The policy, crafted with input from parental rights organizations, including the California Family Council, required schools to inform parents if their child requested to change their name, pronouns, or gender identity at school. Bonta swiftly sued the district, claiming that such a policy “endangered” students and that schools were obligated to protect children’s privacy—even from their own parents.
However, the Superior Court of California, County of San Bernardino, ruled in September 2024 that while schools were not mandated to notify parents of name or pronoun changes, they were required to inform parents if any official or unofficial school records related to their child were changed. This ruling provided a pathway for parents to remain informed about significant developments in their child’s life.
Rather than continue the legal fight, Bonta has chosen to drop the case, allowing the district to enforce its updated policy without further state interference.
A Green Light for Parental Rights Policies Across California
Greg Burt, Vice President of the California Family Council, called the outcome a clear signal for other school districts to adopt similar parental notification policies without fear of legal retaliation.
“This is a major win for parental rights and common sense,” Burt said. “No longer can school districts claim that adopting a parental notification policy will get them sued. Bonta seems to have given up on that line of reasoning. Now, every district in California should follow Chino Valley’s lead and ensure parents are kept in the loop when their children are being socially transitioned at school.”
Sonja Shaw: Parents Must Remain Vigilant
Chino Valley Unified School District Board President Sonja Shaw, a fierce advocate for parental rights, celebrated the decision while warning that the battle is not over.
“The victory in California courts reinforces the rights parents have in making decisions about their children’s education and the critical role parents play in guiding their child’s education, well-being and safety,” Shaw said. “Let the court’s decision serve as a powerful statement that any action that undermines or attempts to strip away parental rights will be challenged. Let it also serve as a reminder that if we don’t challenge the system, we give up our voice and freedoms.”
Shaw also emphasized the need for continued vigilance:
“While we celebrate this win, our work is far from over. We must remain vigilant and hold accountable those in positions of authority who are trying to destroy families. Now is the time for parents to step up, demand transparency, and ensure that every decision made in our education system is in the best interest of our kids.”
Legal Experts Declare Victory for Parents
The Liberty Justice Center, which represented Chino Valley in court, declared the case a significant victory for parents’ rights.
“We are proud to have defended Chino Valley’s parental notification policy, and we look forward to continuing our ever-expanding legal battle for Californian families’ rights,” said Emily Rae, Senior Counsel at the Liberty Justice Center.
This decision sets a legal precedent that could embolden school boards across the state to take similar steps in protecting parental rights. It also raises questions about the long-term viability of policies that seek to keep parents in the dark regarding their children’s identity changes at school.
What about AB 1955?
Some might ask, what about AB 1995, the bill passed last year that prohibits school districts from adopting policies that require teachers or school staff to notify parents when a student changes their name or pronouns at school? However, Rae explains that Chino’s policy doesn’t mention names or pronouns related to gender identity and only applies to official and unofficial school records, something federal law explicitly gives parents access to. “Chino Valley’s policy remains fully legal because it aligns with federal protections under FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act),” Rae said. “Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta may not like it, but parents have a right to know the content of their child’s school records, and AB 1955 cannot erase that federal protection.”
Trump Order Threatens School Funding for Secret Gender Transitions
The court victory for Chino Valley Unified School District aligns with a major new federal policy issued by President Donald Trump. In his January 29, 2025, executive order titled “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling,” the president directed federal agencies to pull funding from any school that secretly transitions a child to a new gender identity without parental knowledge. The order explicitly states that concealing a child’s social transition from parents may violate federal laws protecting parental rights, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). Schools receiving federal funds must comply with these regulations or face financial consequences. This decisive action provides strong backing for parental notification policies like the one upheld in Chino Valley and serves as a warning to other districts attempting to keep parents in the dark.
A Turning Point for California’s Schools?
For years, California’s state government has sought to push radical gender ideology into classrooms while sidelining parents. However, the failure of Bonta’s lawsuit against Chino Valley marks a turning point. This decision proves that the courts recognize parents’ fundamental rights and signals that legal threats against districts enacting similar policies may no longer hold weight.
With this victory, Chino Valley Unified and its allies have sent a strong message: parents have the right to know, and they will not be silenced.
