Parents—not schools—direct children. Chatham’s policy let counselors decide whether parents were involved

The settlement ends a federal fight over a school policy that let counselors decide whether parents could be involved when a student sought to identify as a different gender.

Chatham’s settlement is a victory for parents: the school board announced an agreement ending a lawsuit over its gender-identity policy¹. On October 19, 2026, commentator Aaron Rupar wrote that schools changing a child’s gender without telling parents “literally has never happened! Not once!”!”

The settlement agreement records that the board adopted the New Jersey School Boards Association’s Model Policy 5145.7 on January 8, 2024¹. M.A. Rothman, citing the Daily Wire, reported that counselors could determine “whether, and to what extent, parents/guardians can be involved” when a student asserted a different gender identity².

That language makes parental authority conditional on a counselor’s judgment. Parents bear responsibility for their child’s upbringing; they should not need a school employee’s permission to fulfill it.

Thomas More Society’s case account says the district was informed of a Supreme Court ruling and asked to rescind its policy, “but no reply came.”³ Rothman reported that board President Ann Ciccarelli told a June public meeting the ruling did not apply to New Jersey schools. Moms for Liberty and the Thomas More Society sued in August, alleging violations of parents’ First and Fourteenth Amendment rights².

The board’s answer left parents to seek relief in federal court².

The settlement says the board will not readopt Policy 5145.7 or a derivative, including Policy 5756, unless state or federal law mandates it under terms compliant with Supreme Court precedent. Current and future district employees must receive the agreement¹.

Those provisions reach beyond the boardroom: the commitment follows the district into future staffing and policy decisions. Renaming the same rule is no escape from the agreement.

Chatham families should hold the board to the settlement it signed. Has every employee received the agreement? Does each proposed replacement policy honor its prohibition? Those are concrete questions for the board, with answers parents can demand in public.

Other school boards should reject rules that give staff discretion to sideline families. Parents should insist on written protections before another dispute forces them into court.

Parents—not schools—direct children. Chatham’s policy let counselors decide whether parents were involved

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