California school district surveys middle schoolers on Title IX issues

Sacramento City Unified School District is surveying middle school students on “gender equity.” 

The California school district conducts a school climate survey every year in which it asks students in grades 3-12 about school atmosphere. This spring, the district added “Title IX Race and Gender Equity” sections to the survey for students in grades 7-12. 

The survey asks children as young as 12 if they are “treated unfairly because of their sexual orientation (boys who like boys are punished or not accepted for liking boys, and girls who like girls are punished or not accepted for liking girls), if “students who don’t identify as a girl or a boy are punished or not accepted for how they identify themselves,” and if they “struggle with grades or schoolwork because of gender discrimination.” 

If parents do not wish to have their children participate in the survey, they must contact their child’s school or submit an opt-out form. In pursuance with the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment, the district notified parents ahead of time about the survey. Parents had the opportunity to submit opt-out forms directly to a school days before the survey was administered. 

The school district appointed an equity officer in January to “push us to go deeper to confront racial prejudice so the culture and climate at our district and each of our schools will be inclusive, supportive, culturally competent, and equitable for all students, staff and families,” Superintendent Jorge A. Aguilar said in a statement. 

Results from the survey will be used to further social-emotional learning programs, according to the survey description. The district’s comprehensive social-emotional learning curriculum includes anti-racist classroom guidelines. The guidelines laud as “leaders to learn from and follow” anti-racist figures such as Ibram X. Kendi and far-left organizations including the ACLU, Black Lives Matter, and Check Your Privilege. 

“Positive school climate is important to us as we work towards equitable outcomes for all of our students. The social and emotional health of our students is a priority. Hearing from all members of our community on these issues is critical,” the district said in a newsletter.