2024-10-19 Press Release – based on 10/17 updates

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Concerned Parents Speak Out for Curriculum Integrity Amidst Misinformation in Cupertino Union School District

Cupertino, CA – October 19, 2024– A coalition of concerned parents in the Cupertino Union School District (CUSD) has issued a statement following recent events, reaffirming their commitment to ensuring a quality education for all students. This follows a series of events at CUSD board meetings and increased media attention on the debate surrounding curriculum content.

Gender Identity Is Not Part of the Curriculum, per CUSD On Sep/26, CUSD released a letter confirming the “the materials in question were not part of the District’s adopted curriculum”.

Events at Recent Board Meetings On Sep/26, during a CUSD board meeting, the Cupertino Education Association (CEA) spread misinformation, alleging that the concerned parents’ group had affiliations with Moms for Liberty. These claims led to hostility directed at parents, including name-calling and mocking from other meeting attendees. In response to this behavior, Phyllis Vogel, President of the CUSD Board, reiterated the district’s policy on maintaining decorum during public comment at the Oct/10 meeting, emphasizing respect and civility.

At the Oct/10 board meeting, the president of the CEA called for the introduction of gender identity content into the transitional kindergarten (TK) curriculum. CEA members cited unrelated legal passages, suggesting that the issue was tied to broader LGBTQ+ concerns. However, the concerned parents’ group stresses that gender identity content is not part of the CUSD TK curriculum and maintains that such teachings are neither appropriate nor effective for fostering inclusivity at this educational level.

Parent and Candidate Participation Throughout the discussions, the parents have consistently maintained a calm, polite, and focused presence during their statements to the board. The 10/10 meeting also saw input from CUSD board candidates, Long Jiao and Doug Kunz. Long Jiao emphasized the district’s duty to provide quality education to taxpayers and called for greater transparency and clearer policies. Conversely, Doug Kunz advocated for the inclusion of gender identity in the TK curriculum and characterized the concerned parents’ group as a “MAGA takeover” on his campaign website.

Increased Media Attention and Clarifications Following these events, media coverage of the issue surged around Oct/17. While the concerned parents’ group appreciates the balanced reporting by some outlets, they challenge the statements made by an “education lawyer” quoted by the Mercury News and other publications. The lawyer’s claim that “if a teacher is transgender and says that they want to talk about gender expression, I think they’re well within their First Amendment right to do so” is inaccurate. The group highlights that, according to various decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court and federal courts, K-12 teachers do not possess unrestricted free speech rights in classroom settings. (Source: ACLU Northern California)

Call for Adoption of BP6144 and Recent Legal Ruling On Oct/17, the CUSD board discussed BP 6144, a policy long sought by concerned parents. BP 6144 requires balanced and age appropriate instructions, which is already backed by Ed. Code 60045 Criteria for instructional materials. This policy, successfully adopted in many other school districts, would clarify curriculum boundaries. The concerned parents urge the board to adopt BP 6144 without delay to ensure clarity and consistency in educational content.

The group also points to a recent ruling by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in a similar case in Pennsylvania, where a district lost a lawsuit after a teacher read a gender identity book to first graders against parents’ wishes. The court’s decision reaffirmed that “the right of parents to control the upbringing and education of their children is fundamental”, and that “how to determine a young child’s gender identity” rests with parental authority, citing the 14th Amendment. The ruling underscores the importance of respecting the beliefs and decision-making authority of parents when it comes to their children’s gender identity. The Court also explained that “It is important to remember that even if the [state statute] sanctioned the Board’s policies and actions, Constitutional guarantees would still trump the statute.”

Ongoing Challenges Despite their efforts for respectful dialogue, the concerned parents note that the same small group of protestors continues to label them with derogatory terms such as “bigots” and “fascists” during Oct/17’s public meetings. The parents remain focused on advocating for an educational environment that respects the diverse values of all families in the district.

About the Concerned Parents Group The concerned parents’ group in CUSD is dedicated to upholding curriculum integrity and ensuring that the district provides high-quality, unbiased education to all students. The group believes in transparency, parental involvement, and maintaining a respectful environment for discussing the future of education in CUSD.

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