- Introduced
- Failed
Overview
This bill establishes a process for parents to opt their children out of classroom instruction related to transgender concepts.
Law Today
California law currently requires social sciences instruction to include study of the role and contributions of LGBTQ+ Americans and other groups. Existing law also allows parents to request that pupils be excused from health instruction that conflicts with their religious training and beliefs.
If Passed
This bill would create a new right for parents to request that their children be excused from any school instruction, lesson, presentation, assembly, or survey that discusses or references transgender concepts (defined broadly to include gender identity, gender expression, gender dysphoria, sex as a spectrum, and related topics). Schools would have to provide alternative educational activities during such instruction and could not impose discipline or academic penalties for the excusal. Parents would also have a private right to sue schools for violations.
AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.
Should I support this?
- Strongly Oppose
- Likely Oppose
- Neutral
- This billLikely Support
- Strongly Support
Likely Support
For Christian parents who hold traditional views on sex and gender or who believe parental authority over children's moral and values education should be primary, this bill directly protects their ability to opt their children out of instruction on these topics without school retaliation. It affirms the principle—rooted in case law cited in the bill—that parents have fundamental rights in directing their children's upbringing and that schools should defer to parental wishes on sensitive moral matters, particularly those touching on sexuality and gender identity.
AI assessment using F3’s editorial criteria — faith, family, and freedom. This is F3’s policy judgment; verify the provisions in the official bill text.
Likely supporters & opponents
Likely support
- Religious-liberty and parental-rights advocacy organizations — Parents have a fundamental constitutional right to direct their children's education and moral upbringing, and should not have schools teach concepts that conflict with their religious or moral beliefs about sex and gender without their consent.
- Conservative and faith-based parent groups — Schools should respect parental authority over values education and not present contested ideological claims about gender as settled fact to children whose parents hold traditional views on sex and gender.
Likely opposition
- Public education and civil-liberties organizations — Broad opt-out rights based on vague definitions of 'transgender concepts' could exclude pupils from inclusive curriculum and create unequal educational experiences, and the private right of action may expose schools to frivolous litigation.
- LGBTQ+ advocacy and affirming organizations — Allowing wholesale opt-outs from curriculum mentioning transgender topics stigmatizes LGBTQ+ students, isolates them from inclusive instruction, and sends a message that their identities are inappropriate for school discussion.
AI-inferred typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.
Official summary
An act to add Section 51247 to the Education Code, relating to pupil instruction.
Sponsors
- Leticia Castillo (R)
Status timeline
- 2026-02-02Died at Desk.A
- 2025-02-14From printer. May be heard in committee March 16.A
- 2025-02-13Read first time. To print.A
H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly