US Education Department Investigates California School Districts Over Student Questionnaires

The U.S. Department of Education has launched investigations into three California school districts — North Monterey County, Palo Alto, and San Francisco Unified — over allegations that educators collected sensitive student data without parental knowledge or consent.

The probes center on claims that questionnaires probed students' sexuality, gender identity, and other personal information. The department stated that under the federal Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, schools are barred from surveying students on certain protected information without first obtaining parental consent, and parents have the right to opt their children out of such surveys.

U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon emphasized that parents are responsible for raising their children and should be informed about all aspects of their children's education. The investigations come in the wake of previous federal actions, including a January finding that the California Department of Education had violated federal law by encouraging schools to conceal students' gender transitions from their parents.

Critics argue that educators should focus on core academic subjects like English and math, rather than engaging in what they term "ideological indulgences." The article points to recent test scores in California as evidence of academic struggles in some districts. In North Monterey Unified, only 29% of students were proficient in English and 17% in math. San Francisco Unified reported 53% English proficiency and 46% math proficiency. Palo Alto Unified showed higher scores, with 82% proficient in English and 80% in math.

The investigations aim to hold schools accountable for adhering to federal laws and respecting parental rights. The federal stance is that while abuse concerns may arise in rare cases, misleading parents through surveys is unacceptable.