Supreme Court Blocks California Law Barring Schools From Informing Parents About Gender Transitions of Their Children

The U.S. Supreme Court issued an emergency order on March 2, siding with a group of California parents and temporarily blocking state policies that prevent public schools from notifying families when students socially transition or request different names and pronouns.

In a 6–3 decision divided along ideological lines, the Court reinstated a federal district court injunction that prohibits California schools from “misleading parents about their children’s gender presentation” or disregarding parental instructions concerning names and pronouns. The unsigned majority opinion stated that the parents are likely to succeed on claims that the policies violate their rights under the First Amendment’s free exercise clause and the 14th Amendment’s protection of parental authority to direct the upbringing and education of their children.

The case, Mirabelli v. Bonta, was brought by religious parents and teachers challenging California’s 2024 law and related school guidelines. Those policies generally prohibit educators from disclosing a student’s gender identity, social transition, or preferred pronouns to parents without the student’s consent. The guidelines were designed to protect LGBTQ students from potential family rejection.

A federal district judge in San Diego blocked the policies in late 2025. However, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit stayed that ruling while the appeal moved forward. The Supreme Court overturned that stay after the parents filed an emergency application.