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April 3, 2025 38 mins

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation into California’s practice of requiring schools to lie to parents about their child's "gender identity." Julie Hamill, founder of the California Justice Center, joins Freedom to Learn to explain how California’s zealous embrace of gender ideology violates both the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Title IX and puts federal funding at risk. We reflect on Julie’s journey from a frustrated parent to a courageous voice challenging government overreach and the harmful impacts of COVID-era policies on children. She identifies the forces behind school closures and mask mandates, and details the origins and growing influence of gender ideology in schools.

Read more:

Defense of Freedom Institute, California Justice Center File Federal Civil Rights Complaint Against California Department of Education and Multiple School Districts for Title IX Violations: https://dfipolicy.org/press-release-defense-of-freedom-institute-california-justice-center-file-federal-civil-rights-complaint-against-california-department-of-education-and-multiple-school-districts-for-title-ix-violati/

U.S. Department of Education Launches Investigation into California Department of Education for Alleged FERPA Violations: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-launches-investigation-california-department-of-education-alleged-ferpa-violations


U.S. Department of Education Directs Schools to Comply with Parental Rights Laws: https://www.ed.gov/about/news/press-release/us-department-of-education-directs-schools-comply-parental-rights-laws

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