EXCLUSIVE: House committee probes Chicago Public Schools over hiding 'gender affirmation' from parents

EXCLUSIVE — The House Committee on Education and the Workforce is demanding Chicago Public Schools (CPS) Superintendent and CEO Macquline King respond to concerns that schools are hiding information regarding students' gender transitions from parents.

In a letter obtained by Fox News Digital, Committee Chair Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., reached out to King in response to her testimony at a June 10 hearing titled, "Breaking Trust: Attacks on Parental Rights, Inappropriate Content, and Legal Abuses in America’s Schools."

"When asked by Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., at the June 10 hearing about CPS’ 'socially transitioning children without parental knowledge or consent,' [King] responded, '[w]e do not hide information from parents.' However, several of CPS’s policies and resources suggest otherwise," Walberg wrote.

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Walberg cited CPS' interim guidelines along with a "Gender Diversity Toolkit" that prohibit staff members from disclosing a student's "transgender status or gender-nonconforming presentation" without the student's permission and clarified that parental consent is not required.

The Michigan congressman expressed concerns that the vague language of the guidelines could prevent faculty from communicating with parents about students' gender identity, which could go against the Supreme Court's ruling in Mirabelli v. Bonta earlier this year.

"When Rep. Bob Onder, R-Mo., asked you at the June 10 hearing whether CPS had made any changes in its policies to align with the Supreme Court’s decision in Mirabelli, you deflected and failed to give a clear, direct answer. You stated that you 'hope[d]' that 'the parent, the families, the student…and the school would all be in communication,'" Walberg wrote.

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"Notably, while you stated that CPS communicates with parents in compliance with Illinois state law, you failed to specify whether CPS complies with federal law or Mirabelli, he continued. "CPS’s policies appear to undermine the authority of parents and guardians, which the Supreme Court has stated 'have primary authority with respect to the upbringing and education of children.’"

The Supreme Court ruled in Mirabelli v. Bonta that parents were likely to succeed in their claims that a California law prohibiting schools from disclosing to parents their child’s "gender identity" violated their free exercise rights under the First Amendment and their substantive due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment, though the case still remains in litigation at the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Meanwhile, Walberg and the committee are requesting all guidance documents, written complaints and professional development training related to gender and sexuality with a response no later than Sept. 11.

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In a comment to Fox News Digital, Walberg added, "Parents deserve the right to know what goes on in their child’s classroom and have a say in decisions regarding their child — that is commonsense and that right doesn’t go away at the schoolhouse door. Yet, far too often we have seen policies that allow schools to withhold important information from parents and make decisions about a child’s name, pronouns, or gender identity without their knowledge."

"Our Committee will always stand up for parents’ rights and defend their God-given role in their children’s lives and education," he concluded.

Fox News Digital reached out to Chicago Public Schools for comment but did not immediately receive a response.