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Here is what our monitoring surfaced across 220 districts between Oct 19, 2026 and Oct 26, 2026.
The Week in Brief
This week saw a rise in concerns, with many districts spending tax dollars on student data-mining and social-emotional programs instead of academics. We are also seeing a troubling pattern of districts trying to add ‘gender identity’ to official policies and even cede control over controversial topics to teacher unions. On the positive side, parents secured major victories in several districts, passing new policies that protect student privacy and affirm parental rights. It is critical for parents to stay engaged as many of these important votes are happening in the coming days.
Patterns This Week
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7 districts
Schools Are Watching: The Rise of Student Surveillance
Districts are spending millions on software to track, survey, and collect sensitive data on students, often without clear parental consent.
El Monte Union High · Quakertown Community SD · Waukee Comm School District · Memphis-Shelby County Schools · Norwalk-La Mirada Unified · Waterford UHS School District · Federal Way School District
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6 districts
Parental Rights Are Winning on Gender and Curriculum
Across the country, school boards are responding to parents by passing policies that protect student privacy and ensure parents are the primary decision-makers.
Muskego-Norway School District · Menasha Joint School District · Bakersfield City · Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified · Vineland Elementary · York 02
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✓ Wins
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Major Win (Level 10)
District Adopts New Parental Rights Protections for Curriculum
Menasha Joint School District · Winnebago County, WI · Oct 26, 2026
The district is adopting revised policies (2210, 2510, 2521) that require advance notice to parents for any instructional content that may conflict with sincerely held religious beliefs. These policies formalize the right for parents to opt their children out and receive alternative assignments.
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Major Win (Level 10)
HUGE WIN: District Adopts Policy Protecting Student Privacy in Bathrooms
Muskego-Norway School District · Waukesha County, WI · Oct 26, 2026
Under Item 3.A, the Policy Committee is reviewing a new policy, po5525, that requires students to use restrooms and locker rooms according to their biological sex at birth. This policy protects the privacy and safety of all students, especially girls, by preventing biological males from entering their private spaces.
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Major Win (Level 10)
HUGE WIN: District Proposes Policy to Stop Social Transitioning Behind Parents’ Backs
Bakersfield City · Kern County, CA · Oct 27, 2026
In a major victory for parental rights, the board is introducing a new regulation (AR 601.14) that would prohibit staff from misleading parents about a student’s gender identity at school. The policy requires staff to use a student’s legal name and pronoun if a parent objects to alternatives and requires disclosure of a student’s asserted gender identity to parents upon request.
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Major Win (Level 10)
District Moves to Affirm Parental Rights on Gender
Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified · Los Angeles County, CA · Oct 28, 2026
Under Item K.6, the Board is reviewing policy updates (BP 5020, AR 5020) that explicitly give parents the right to object to their child being socially transitioned at school with different names or pronouns. The policy revision is based on the recent ‘Mirabelli v. Bonta’ court decision, which prohibits schools from deceiving parents about their child’s gender identity.
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Major Win (Level 9)
District Adopts Policy Protecting Parental Rights on Gender Identity
Vineland Elementary · Kern County, CA · Oct 19, 2026
As part of the CSBA policy updates in Item 13.1, the district is adopting language based on the federal court decision in Mirabelli v. Bonta. The new policies (AR 5020, BP 5022, AR 5145.3) will prohibit district employees from misleading parents about a student’s gender identity at school and require them to honor a parent’s objection to the use of non-biological names or pronouns.
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Watch List
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HIGH CONCERN (Level 10)
Expanding ‘Esteem Curriculum’ to 5th Graders
Corpus Christi ISD · Nueces County, TX · Oct 26, 2026
The Board is voting to expand a program called the ‘Esteem Curriculum’ into 5th-grade classrooms. This curriculum is not defined in the agenda, but such programs often contain sensitive topics related to health and sexuality, which require full parental review before being taught to 10- and 11-year-olds.
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HIGH CONCERN (Level 10)
Board Cedes Control of Controversial Topics to Union
Chsd 128 · Lake County, IL · Oct 26, 2026
Under Item 8.B, the Board is set to approve Policy 6-80, which states the privately-negotiated teacher union contract will override public board policy on how controversial issues are taught. This effectively removes parental oversight and public accountability, hiding the real classroom rules in a document parents can’t easily see or change.
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HIGH CONCERN (Level 10)
$854,375 in Contracts for SEL and Mental Health Services
Cedar Rapids Comm School District · Linn County, IA · Oct 26, 2026
The board is set to approve $854,375 in contracts with outside groups, hidden in the consent agenda. This includes $439,368 to Kids First Law Center for ‘restorative discipline practices’ and $347,707 to Tanager Place for ‘school-based mental health’ services, creating a pipeline for ideological programs and clinics operating without parental presence.
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HIGH CONCERN (Level 10)
District Codifies ‘Gender Identity’ in Harassment Policy
Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools · Scott County, MN · Oct 26, 2026
Item 11.A.4 presents the first reading of Policy 413, the district’s core Harassment and Violence policy. This policy explicitly defines harassment to include conduct related to an individual’s ‘gender identity’ and ‘sexual orientation,’ making it a punishable offense within the entire ‘learning and working environment.’ This policy can be used to compel speech, such as using preferred pronouns, and punish students or staff who do not comply with gender ideology.
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HIGH CONCERN (Level 10)
New App Collects Massive Amounts of Student Data
Waukee Comm School District · Dallas County, IA · Oct 26, 2026
A $74,609.22 contract with ParentSquare gives the communications company access to a shocking amount of your child’s private data. The agreement (Item IV.B.5.8) allows them to collect everything from race, language, and low-income status to medical alerts, disability information, and IEP/504 status.
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Week at a Glance
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818
Concerns
+86 vs prior
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| Ideological |
270 |
+14 vs prior |
| Financial |
222 |
+38 vs prior |
| Governance |
197 |
+11 vs prior |
| Parental Rights |
102 |
+8 vs prior |
| External Legislation |
27 |
+15 vs prior |
Most Active Counties
| Los Angeles County, CA |
139 |
| Cuyahoga County, OH |
64 |
| Bucks County, PA |
58 |
| King County, WA |
41 |
| Waukesha County, WI |
39 |
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