Why the new “decline” study misses what’s happening in America’s classrooms
Parents’ Rights In Education | Suzanne Gallagher, Executive Director
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www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com
The Myth of the “End” of the Gender Craze
You may have heard reports claiming that the “gender craze” is over—that fewer young people now identify as transgender or nonbinary, and that the cultural trend has peaked.
Unfortunately, that conclusion is misleading and incomplete.
A recently published study being shared across major outlets
excluded one of the largest and most influential groups shaping youth identity today:
K-12 public schools.
Across the nation, district policies and classroom practices continue to promote gender questioning—even in kindergarten.
What the Study Missed
1️⃣ Limited Focus – The study relied on surveys of college students and older teens, not elementary and middle school children where gender instruction begins.
2️⃣ Ignoring Institutions – Researchers failed to include the influence of school policies, teacher training, and curriculum.
3️⃣ Lasting Infrastructure – Even if some students revert, the gender ideology framework remains built into policies and school culture.
4️⃣ Early Exposure – From preschool through grade school, children are still introduced to gender identity lessons far beyond basic health or biology.
The numbers may fluctuate, but
the agenda continues, quietly embedded in the system that shapes children’s daily experiences.
What’s Still Happening in K-12 Schools
- Gender “Support” Plans: Students can change names or pronouns at school without parental consent.
- Teacher Training: Staff are taught to affirm identity changes, sometimes before informing parents.
- Curriculum Shift: Lessons on gender identity appear in early learning materials, sometimes as part of “social-emotional” learning.
- Policy Enforcement: Teachers risk discipline for “misgendering,” while parents are often excluded from discussions.
- Facilities Access: Many schools allow use of restrooms and locker rooms based on gender identity rather than sex.
These practices are now institutionalized in thousands of districts—and they were not even considered in the “decline” study.
💬 My Take
By Suzanne Gallagher, Executive Director, Parents’ Rights In Education
The claim that “the gender craze is over” might comfort those who wish the controversy would simply fade away. But parents can’t afford to be lulled to sleep. What’s happening in America’s classrooms tells a very different story.
Even if surveys show a temporary dip in older teens identifying as transgender,
the system driving the movement is still fully operational—from classroom policies and teacher training to gender “support” plans beginning in kindergarten. Once ideology takes root in an institution, it doesn’t disappear quietly. It keeps growing until someone stands up and pulls it out by the roots.
This is not just about gender identity. It’s about
authority—who has the moral and legal right to guide a child’s understanding of truth, body, and self. Parents or the State? When schools position themselves as co-parents, quietly steering children toward identity decisions that conflict with family values, they cross a constitutional line and erode trust at the most fundamental level.
Public schools were never meant to be laboratories for social experimentation. Their purpose is academic education—reading, writing, math, history, and civics—not ideological formation.
Parents must reclaim that boundary.
The truth is, the “gender craze” won’t end on its own. It ends when parents insist on transparency, when school boards restore parental consent, and when communities stand firm for biological reality and the family’s rightful authority.
If we stay silent, the next generation will inherit policies and practices that normalize confusion. But if we speak boldly now, with conviction and compassion, we can restore clarity, protect children, and preserve the integrity of the family.
That’s what this movement is about.
Not fear—responsibility. Not hate—truth. Not politics—parental rights.
📊 By the Numbers
12 states now require parental notification before gender identity changes at school.
1 in 4 school districts include “gender support plans” allowing social transitions without parental consent.
45% of teachers report mandatory “gender inclusivity” training.
70% of parents say they were unaware their district had a gender policy for minors.
Source: EdWeek, Chalkbeat, Gallup Education Polls (2024–2025).
🟥 Call to Action: What You Can Do
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Ask for transparency: Request a copy of your district’s gender identity and parental notification policies.
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Speak up: Attend board meetings and insist on parental consent for all gender-related programs. Download suggested testimony HERE
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Get organized: Join or start a
Parents’ Rights In Education school district Affiliate in your community.
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Educate others: Share this newsletter and encourage parents to take the
PRE Score at
ParentsRightsInEducation.com.
Parents’ Rights In Education
Empowering parents. Protecting children. Preserving truth.
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www.ParentsRightsInEducation.com
