NJ school district says it mistakenly released names of elementary students who were opted out of controversial sex-ed program



The public school district in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, said it mistakenly released the names of close to 100 elementary students whose families opted them out of a controversial sex-education program last year, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

The families of an additional 82 children also were notified that their names may have been released, Cherry Hill Public Schools Superintendent Kwame Morton said last week, the Inquirer added.

'A lot of parents are upset. Somebody needs to be held accountable.'

The paper said the elementary students' names were released in September 2023 after an Open Public Records Act request seeking information about how many parents were excluding their children from the state's controversial new standards on sex education, which include information about gender identity, puberty, and masturbation.

The Inquirer said Morton acknowledged the mistake and noted that the names were removed last week from the OPRAmachine, which assists requesters with accessing public records and is where the 2023 request had been filed.

Morton said the names were redacted in the district’s PDF files but showed up when the OPRAmachine converted the files to a different format, the paper reported. The district used an incorrect redaction procedure, which allowed the names to appear despite being blacked out, Charlie Kratovil, an OPRAmachine leader, added to the Inquirer.

Once district lawyers were made aware of the issue, the paper said they sent a letter to the OPRAmachine to get the names removed. Morton told the Inquirer that the district has implemented new security measures, and employees were retrained on confidentiality rules.

“In no way shape or form was the intention to release any names,” Morton told the paper last week. ”The important thing is not ever is it our intention to harm any child.”

Harvey Vazquez — a parent and former school board candidate — submitted an online complaint last month asking the U.S. Department of Education to investigate whether the district violated the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, which protects students’ privacy and education records, the Inquirer said.

More from the paper:

Vazquez, whose 6-year-old son was on the opt-out list, brought up the issue last month at a school board meeting, where Morton says he was first made aware.

Vazquez said the students whose names were made public without parental consent attended Russell Knight, Bret Harte, Richard Stockton, and Thomas Paine elementary schools. A parent notified the district about the release of the names in November 2023, but nothing was done, he said.

Morton confirmed that no action was taken, but said he was not informed about the release at the time.

“A lot of parents are upset,” Vazquez told the Inquirer. “Somebody needs to be held accountable.”

More from the paper:

The unauthorized disclosure came to light during a hotly contested race for three school board seats in Cherry Hill among Vazquez and nine others. Vazquez said he discovered the release after he began investigating the New Jersey Public Education Coalition, which labeled three other candidates in the race as “like-minded.” Vazquez narrowly lost.

The coalition, which touts itself as a nonpartisan group of educators, parents, and other stakeholders, made the OPRA request as part of a statewide project surveying districts. The group wanted to dispute claims that a majority of New Jersey parents had opted out of the new sex-education standards, said its founder Michael Gottesman.

The revised guidelines, which took effect in 2022, prompted an outcry from some parents. The state allowed districts to decide whether to amend their curricula to meet the expectations of what students should learn by the end of second, fifth, eighth, and 12th grade. Parents who believe the instruction conflicts with their moral or religious beliefs may have the student excused from that portion of the course.

Gottesman told the Inquirer that an outside vendor analyzed the coalition’s survey results, and the coalition never saw the students’ names. He added to the paper that he hadn't learned that the names had been disclosed until recently.

“As a coalition, we would never release that type of information,” Gottesman noted to the Inquirer.

Bridget Palmer — one of the newly elected Cherry Hill school board members — told the paper, “There is no arguing that there was a huge mistake made. You can’t undo what has already been done, but we can take steps to make sure it never happens again.”

Vazquez noted to the Inquirer that he wants the district to better explain how the lapse occurred and enact discipline against anyone who was responsible: “There needs to be a public apology. That’s the least they can do.”

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Georgia’s K-5 ‘Social Studies’ Curriculum Is A Trojan Horse For Leftism

Kids from Savannah to Sparta must be primed for spotting 'systemic injustices' before they leave elementary school.

Scholastic backtracks on giving elementary schools the option of not ​displaying race- and gender-focused collection at book fairs



Scholastic was poised to provide elementary schools with the option of whether or not to expose children to a special collection containing some works of identitarian and LGBT propaganda. Following weeks of pressure from activist groups keen on depriving schools across the nation of such a choice, the company has backtracked.

What's the background?

The Scholastic Corporation announced on Oct. 13 that in the face of various legislative efforts across the country to protect children from obscene and/or divisive content, it would be rolling out a special collection containing "mostly LGBTQIA+ titles and books that engage with the presence of racism in our country." Accordingly, schools would get the choice of whether or not to display the collection or specific books within it at elementary school fairs.

According to a list obtained by EdWeek, the special collection included:

  • "I Color Myself Different," Colin Kaepernick's book emphasizing race-based identity;
  • "Efrén Divided," Ernesto Cisneros' book about a boy whose parents, both of whom stole into the U.S. illegally, are sent packing to Mexico;
  • "The Secret Battle of Evan Pao," Wendy Wan-Long Shang's book in which the antagonists are racist white bullies aided by deferential cops;
  • "Speak Up!" Rebecca Burgess' book about an adolescent with a so-called nonbinary friend; and
  • "The Tryout," Christina Soontornvat's anti-racist tale.

A number of the other books appear to have been relatively innocuous.

"To continue offering these books, as well as even more high-interest titles, we created an additional collection called Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice for our U.S. elementary school fairs," the company said in a statement. "We cannot make a decision for our school partners around what risks they are willing to take, based on the state and local laws that apply to their district, so these topics and this collection have been part of many planning calls that happen in advance of shipping a fair."

The company, which reaches roughly 35 million children and hosts 120,000 events in the U.S. annually, noted that the solution wasn't perfect but stressed it was preferable to alternatively not offering the books at all.

Scholastic spokeswoman Anne Sparkman told the Daily Beast that in creating the collection, the company "began with titles we support even as they are the most likely to be restricted."

While supposedly optional, it appears the special collection would still have been accessible on-site.

"When local laws or policies create content restrictions, many fair hosts make the collection available during family hours, where parents accompany children to the event," added Sparkman.

Cailey Myers, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education, intimated this was much ado about nothing, noting that various books in the special collection, such as the John Lewis biography, were more than welcome in the Sunshine State, reported the New York Times.

Myers further pointed out that one of the books on the list was, in fact, suggested reading by the state's English standards.

"This is a political stunt by a corporation prioritizing activism over the well-being of children," said Myers.

Regardless of whether it was a stunt or a possible gambit for earned media, the possibility that schools might be given even the illusion of a choice in the matter of what books to put before kids was too much to bear for various activist groups.

Leftist backlash

Hundreds of Scholastic authors signed a statement on Oct. 20 denouncing the move, noting they "cannot stand by while some of our books are offered to readers, while other works are separated and deemed as possibly dangerous to children."

"The books separated for optional exclusion are almost entirely written about or by people of color or the LGBTQIA+ community. Deciding that the subject matter of these books might go against a state's law capitulates to the idea that these books are not suitable for children. That is harmful, and wrong," continued the statement. "Putting diverse books in a separate, optional collection is a form of censorship that cannot be supported."

The children's authors' letter went onto equate this option with a book ban.

One non-straight Scholastic author, Democratic Socialists of America member Molly Knox Ostertag, suggested that the company's special catalog "doesn't come across as anything but an attempt to compromise with, frankly, fascist laws."

Pen America similarly lashed out, stating that it "shares the dismay we are hearing from authors over news that, at Scholastic Book Fairs, access to certain books by a diverse group of authors has been limited or partitioned because of content related to race, racism and LGBTQ+ identities.

"It will deny the opportunity for all students to encounter diverse stories that increase empathy, understanding, and reflect the range of human experiences and identities which are essential underpinnings of a pluralistic, democratic society," added the group.

Despite its invocation of democracy, Pen America once again underscored its loathing for the legislation passed by democratically elected lawmakers across the land.

Pen America and other outfits evidently applied sufficient pressure to force the company into submission.

Capitulation

The New York City-based company provided an update Wednesday, stating, "We offered a collection of books to supplement the diverse collection of titles already available at the Scholastic Book Fair. We understand now that the separate nature of the collection has caused confusion and feelings of exclusion."

On account of the backlash, the company will not be offering the "Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice" collection in January as planned.

Scholastic also took a thinly veiled shot at state Republicans, suggesting it was "unsettling that the current divisive landscape in the U.S. is creating an environment that could deny any child access to books, or that teachers could be penalized for creating access to all stories for their students."

Jonathan Friedman, an activist at Pen America, said of the company's about-face, "Scholastic recognized that, as difficult a bind as this pernicious legislation created, the right answer was not to become an accessory to censorship. ... Scholastic is an essential source of knowledge and a delight for countless children. We are glad to see them champion the freedom to read," reported Publishers Weekly.

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Elementary school to host BLM 'Week of Action' for students as young as kindergarten — to learn about stopping 'heteronormative thinking' and more



A Denver, Colorado, school district is allowing one of its elementary schools to host a Black Lives Matter "Week of Action" for its students, the Daily Caller reported, citing information from Parents Defending Freedom.

What are the details?

Centennial Elementary School in the Denver Public Schools district said it will participate in the event, which takes place beginning Jan. 31 and ending on Feb. 4.

The program — which is sponsored by Black Lives Matter at School — will instruct children as young as those in kindergarten and first grade to be "transgender affirming" by "recognizing trans-antagonistic violence" and "queer affirming" so that "heteronormative thinking" ceases to exist.

The report added that the program will also address globalism, which is a person's "ability to see how we are impacted or privileged within the black global family" and to teach students how to disrupt "Western nuclear family dynamics" for a return to the "collective village" that "takes care of each other."

The outlet reported that in response to questions about the age-appropriateness of the content served up to children as young as 5 years old, the school said that it is "never too early to start talking about race."

The district did not respond to the outlet's request for comment.

Black Lives Matter at School states that it is a" national coalition organizing for racial justice in education."

"We encourage all educators, students, parents, unions, and community organizations to join our annual week of action during the first week of February each year," a portion of its website says.

What else?

This is the second time Centennial Elementary School has been in the news for related activities.

According to previous reports, the school in December announced a "families of color playground night" for black families.

Christopher Rufo, a journalist and senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, shared a photo of the school's marquee board advertising the event on Twitter.

The announcement read, "Families of Color Playground Night."

Rufo captioned the photo, "Denver Public Schools now promoting racially-segregated playtime — for 'equity.'"

Denver Public Schools now promoting racially-segregated playtime\u2014for "equity."pic.twitter.com/QO5XZXHfcX
— Christopher F. Rufo \u2694\ufe0f (@Christopher F. Rufo \u2694\ufe0f) 1639500870

'Committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of inclusion and belonging'

A spokesperson for Denver Public Schools said that it only began hosting the event after parent requests.

"Our school leaders met with some of the black families whose children attend our school to determine ways for these families to feel more included in our school community," the spokesperson told the outlet. "Some of these families shared with us that, since the only time many of them see one another is at drop-off and pick-up times, we host some events where black families can meet one another, connect with one another, and share their experiences about the school with one another. We are honoring their request. All families are welcome to attend all of our events, and families from a variety of backgrounds have done so."

The district's statement added that it "remains committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of inclusion and belonging, where our students, families and team members are safe and welcomed."

Fifth graders will have access to condoms in Chicago elementary schools next month. One parent reacts: 'Oh my God ... they are kids.'



Students as young as the fifth grade will have access to condoms in Chicago elementary schools when they reopen in late August, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

What are the details?

The Chicago Public Schools policy states that schools teaching fifth grade and up must maintain a condom availability program as part of an expanded vision of sexual health education, the Sun-Times said, adding that more than 600 CPS schools will end up having them, save for a dozen that enroll only younger grades.

"Young people have the right to accurate and clear information to make healthy decisions," Kenneth Fox — CPS' chief health officer and a pediatrician of 30 years — told the paper. "And they need access to resources to protect their health and the health of others as they act on those decisions."

Fox added to the Sun-Times that school officials want to "make condoms available to students for if and when they think they need them … When you don't have those protections and don't make those resources available then bad stuff happens to young people. You have elevated risks of sexually transmitted infections, of unintended pregnancies, and that's very preventable stuff."

More from the paper:

To start, elementary schools will get 250 condoms and high schools — many of which already make them available — will get 1,000. The Chicago Department of Public Health will provide the condoms at no cost to the district as part of the city's effort to prevent teen pregnancies, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. When a school runs out, principals will be told to request more from CPS and CDPH.

Schools will get a letter from Fox explaining the policy to parents, and principals will receive guidance for where to store the condoms and how to operate the program. The condoms should be in easily accessible locations in the school while also not too out in the open so there's still privacy for students, Fox said.

"I would expect that not everybody is going to be completely on board right from the start, but I do think society has changed," Fox added to the Sun-Times.

Why so young?

The paper said it asked Fox why fifth grade is a threshold, and he replied that it's "informed by a developmental understanding of children."

CPS' sex-ed curriculum says the district "stresses that choosing to not have sex is the norm for 5th graders. Parents/guardians should be notified by their school if a condom demonstration will be provided," the Sun-Times said.

Scout Bratt, an outreach and education director at the Chicago Women's Health Center, added to the paper that many parents won't agree with the program, and that CPS will be responsible for listening to their concerns.

"I want to be really clear that the existence of condoms does not mean that all students are going to be using those condoms or encouraged to use them," Bratt told the Sun-Times. "The idea is to say we are educational centers, we are community health centers essentially, and we know to invest in young folks' health and well-being by providing comprehensive sex ed, it means we also need to provide the resources. We want students to come to us and to have access to those condoms for free as opposed to potentially having to find them elsewhere or choose not to use condoms. ... It is about recognizing that school is investing in young people's health."

Bratt also told the paper there's no proof that access to condoms will lead to more kids having sex — and that those already doing so will have an easier way to protect themselves through the program.

"It's a harm reduction approach," Bratt told the Sun-Times.

'They are 10 years old, 11, 12. They are kids.'

Maria Serrano — a parent working with Healing to Action, which advocates for improved sex ed — told the paper said education and communication must come before condom availability.

"My question is, 'Oh my God, how is it that CPS wants to give condoms to kids?'" she asked the Sun-Times in Spanish. "They are 10 years old, 11, 12. They are kids. So why is CPS thinking about providing condoms? Why not provide them information, and at the end give them the resource of a condom when they are prepared to use those resources they want to provide. For me, this isn't the best option. They are doing things backwards."

Serrano added to the paper the she only knew about the new program because of her advocacy work and has heard nothing as a parent from CPS.