On April 2, 2025, Parents Defending Education, the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, and Alliance Defending Freedom filed a joint complaint against Milwaukee Public Schools with the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice. The complaint claims the district is breaking the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a federal law that gives parents the right to see their children’s school records, and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), a federal law that protects student privacy and parents’ rights when schools question or evaluate students on sensitive topics.
The district’s “Gender Inclusion Guidance” says students of any age are “entitled to be addressed by an affirmed name and pronoun(s) of their choice that correspond to their gender identity,” without telling their parents or asking for their permission. It warns staff to “be mindful not to reveal, imply, or refer to a student’s actual or perceived gender identity or gender expression when contacting parents/guardians.” The district also gives staff a “Gender Support Plan” form and a “Gender Communication Plan” form to carry out these transitions.
In January 2025, President Trump’s executive order “Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” directed the Department to make enforcing FERPA and the PPRA a priority. The groups urge the Department to investigate, and to cut off Milwaukee Public Schools’ federal funding if the district will not drop these policies. They also ask the Department to require the district to notify the parents of any child with a secret gender support plan.
Read the full complaint below:
