Hanover school policy requiring teachers to inform parents of LGBTQ students about child’s sexual orientation temporarily blocked by state
The New Jersey Superior Court placed a temporary stop on the Hanover Township Board of Education’s parental notification policy on Friday.
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A controversial Hanover school policy requiring teachers to inform parents of LGBTQ students about their child’s sexual orientation has been temporarily blocked by the state.
Policy 8463, which went into effect this week, required teachers and staff to notify parents and administrators of any circumstance they become aware of that could impact a student's physical and mental health or social emotional wellbeing. Those circumstances included information such as sexual activity, sexuality, sexual orientation, gender transitioning, gender identity or expression.
The New Jersey Superior Court placed a temporary stop on the Hanover Township Board of Education’s parental notification policy on Friday.
This comes after LGBTQ organizations criticized the policy and called it a threat to students.
"Outing LGBTQ students to their family without their consent poses significant harm and undermines their privacy, safety and their mental health,” said Christian Fuscarino, executive director of Garden State Equality.
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin filed a civil rights complaint stating the policy could lead to discrimination against students on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity and target transgender students.
However, the Hanover Board of Education states that the policy does not "unlawfully discriminate against students on basis on basis of any protected status."
Parents have also voiced concerns about the policy.
“If they are younger, parents should be informed and educated on what the teachers are learning about their children. But if it is middle school and upper, by that age, those kids are developed enough. They know and are discovering themselves, and might be different from their family views,” said parent John Carlos.
The prohibition will remain in effect until the court has an opportunity to hear arguments from the parties on May 30.
