The U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce paraded superintendents of some of the worst-offending public school districts in the nation Wednesday, grilling them about allowing males in female restrooms, “transitioning” students without informing parents and low academic standards.
“School districts seem to be losing sight of their core mission,” Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan, the committee chairman, said in his opening remarks. “That core mission is educating students. Congress has a responsibility to ask questions.”
Chicago Public Schools Superintendent Macquline King, who appeared under subpoena, could neither confirm nor deny whether the district withholds information about a child’s “gender identity” in the classroom from parents. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Illinois, questioned King about the CPS “Supporting Gender Equality Toolkit,” which instructs teachers and staff to “socially transition” students in the classroom without informing parents.
“We do not hide information from parents,” King said. “I think what you’re referring to is the balance CPS has to strike between student privacy and complying with Illinois state law.”
The report Miller referenced cites students’ “right to privacy” in cases involving gender identity.
“Information about a student’s transgender identity, legal name or sex assigned at birth may also constitute confidential medical and student record information,” the report states. “Disclosing this information may violate state and federal privacy laws.”
Loudoun County, Virginia, Superintendent Aaron Spence faced questions about transgender policies in the affluent Washington, D.C., suburb. Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Michigan, questioned Spence about a recent scandal in which a biological female identifying as male recorded male students changing in a restroom.
“Could you ever see a realm where the people who got videotaped would be the actual perpetrators?” McClain asked.
After pausing, Spence said he could not see that being the case. McClain then asked about specifics in the case, but Spence declined to comment.
Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, addressed San Francisco Unified School District’s comparison of parents protesting COVID-19 policies and choosing private schools to parents in the 1960s who sent their children to private schools to avoid desegregation policies. Owens, who is black, asked SFUSD Superintendent Maria Su whether this is only a problem with white parents or all races. Su said she would need to review the document and did not respond further.
“Just know that in terms of parents leaving public school systems, it’s all colors,” said Owens, who supports school choice. “It is the parents’ right to make sure their kids are being treated and taught right.”
Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-California, who had previously criticized the district’s policies, highlighted some of its recent changes.
At one time, algebra was removed from the eighth-grade curriculum, literacy was taught using what critics called a “discredited scientific basis,” and the district implemented a widely condemned “so-called ethnic studies” program. Su confirmed that algebra has since been restored and the ethnic studies program has been removed.
“When I came on as superintendent, I listened to parents, families and educators and we moved quickly to remove the previous ethnic studies curriculum,” she said.
All three are relatively new superintendents in districts that have been the source of recent controversies, Chalkbeat reported. America First Legal, founded by White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, filed formal complaints against the districts two days before the hearing, alleging violations of parental rights.
Twenty-three members of the 37-member committee questioned witnesses during the three-hour proceedings, with Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, discussing the state of public education.
“Never in my wildest dreams did it occur to me that we would be having a hearing like this,” she said before questioning King.
Walberg concluded the meeting by saying student safety and academic performance remain ongoing concerns in American schools.
“I’m glad we had some positive examples of things that are taking place in the San Francisco Unified School District,” he said. “This hearing today is for the purpose of getting back to solid education and getting away from these cultural wars. We cannot afford to let another generation fall behind.”
