Over 40 families withdraw their children from California school over compulsory transgender lessons

At least 41 families have withdrawn 73 children from a charter school in California after its board rejected a proposal to allow parents to opt-out on lessons about gender identity and homosexuality.

Last Monday, the five-member board of Rocklin Academy Gateway unanimously rejected a "model parent proposal" to allow families to opt-out for lessons on gender identity, saying it would be "discriminatory."

One parent, who pulled her two children out of the charter school, is now keeping a tally of other parents who have done the same.

"It was just the tipping point for most families," the parent who wished to remain anonymous told Life Site News.

She noted that some parents withdrew their children from the school because of the board's decision, adding that other families had "multiple reasons, but yes, this was part of everyone's reason."

The controversy erupted in June when kindergarten teacher Kaelin Swaney read the book "I Am Jazz," which is about reality show star Jazz Jennings, who was born a boy but identifies as a girl. The teacher also read the book "The Red Crayon," which is about a blue crayon that was mislabeled red.

No advance notice was provided to parents, and it is still not clear exactly what happened in the classroom as Swaney and the board had refused to tell the families. Some students were reportedly confused about whether they could transition to the opposite gender.

The board argued that the school was not required to tell parents about lessons on gender identity because it was not sex education. The current law in California requires parental notification and allows parents to opt out of sex education.

On Monday, the board approved a policy directing teachers to inform the parents before teaching sensitive material, but some have said that the measure is "really weak."

"As a result of student privacy rights, parent(s) may not be notified of all circumstances that led the school to choose a particular piece of supplemental instructional material," the new policy reads, according to Christian News Network.

"For example, if the school determines that it is necessary to prevent racial harassment or bullying, it might choose to expose students to material on racial discrimination to sensitize students about the need to teach others with respect," it added.

Monday's meeting was attended by more than 500 community members, some of whom reportedly told the officials that it should be up to the parents, not the school, to speak to their children about such topics.

"This was alarming because it happened at such a young age and outside of the curriculum and there was no notice given," one parent said.