Several school districts in greater Glenside withhold information from parents regarding their children’s gender identity, according to a review by Broad + Liberty.

The article’s author, Dr. Beth Ann Rosica of Chester County, began by highlighting the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision earlier this month in which California parents successfully challenged the Support Academic Futures and Equality for Today’s Youth Act, or SAFETY Act, which took effect on January 1, 2025. The law prohibited schools from adopting policies requiring staff to inform parents about a student’s gender transition.

“These policies likely violate parents’ rights to direct the upbringing and education of their children…,” the court said in its ruling. “The State argues that its policies advance a compelling interest in student safety and privacy. But those policies cut out the primary protectors of children’s best interests: their parents.”

The article provides a graph and links to each of the 21 Pennsylvania school districts which have “gender identity concealment policies.” Included among the listings are the Abington, Cheltenham, Jenkintown, Springfield, Upper Dublin, and Upper Moreland school districts.

Abington’s policy, for example, was first adopted in 2016 and most recently reissued in 2024. Upper Dublin’s policy was first adopted in 2016, Jenkintown’s in 2019, and Upper Moreland’s in 2024.

From Abington School District’s policy:

All persons, including students, have a right to privacy. This includes keeping a student’s actual
or perceived gender identity and expression private. Disclosing such information to other
students, their parents/guardians, or other third parties may violate privacy laws such as the
federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Therefore, school personnel
should not disclose information about a GET student’s gender identity and expression to others,
including the student’s parents/guardians and/or other school personnel, unless legally
required to do so or unless the student has authorized such disclosure.

From Jenkintown School District’s policy:

All persons, including students, have a right to privacy, which includes the right to keep private one’s transgender status or gender expansive presentation at school. Information about a student’s transgender status, legal name, or gender assigned at birth may constitute confidential medical or educational information. Disclosing such information to other students, their parents, or other third parties may violate privacy laws such as the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Therefore, school personnel should not disclose information that may reveal a student’s transgender status or gender expansive presentation to others, including the student’s parents/guardians and/or other school personnel, unless legally required to do so or unless the student has authorized such disclosure. 

Cheltenham School District’s policy is nearly identical, and adds, “In the rare instance that school personnel is required to disclose this information for legal or safety reasons, the school personnel should provide the student the opportunity to make the disclosure themselves, where practicable. This would include providing the student with any support services the student would need to make the disclosure in a safe and supportive environment.”

In March 2025, Springfield Township School District issued a letter reinforcing compliance with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission’s (PHRC) regulations regarding the definition of sex following President Donald Trump’s pair of executive orders on the matter.

“The School District of Springfield Township is governed by the residents of our community, who have elected nine representatives to serve on the Board of School Directors,” superintendent Dr. MaryJo Yannacone wrote in the letter. “We believe firmly in our mission to ‘educate our students as learners and citizens who are high-achieving, resilient and responsible in a changing global ‘community.’ Aligned with our mission in an equity vision that we are ‘committed to and accountable for advancing equity and excellence for all of our students.’ Today and every day, we remain focused on our shared mission and vision.”

Dr. Rosica served as a plaintiff in a 58-page petition filed in March 2025 by a Western Pennsylvanian law firm on behalf of two school districts in Butler County and five individuals. The petition was filed against Governor Josh Shapiro and the PHRC, alleging their regulations “are a violation of the state constitution and the non-delegation doctrine.”

“The PHRC in 2023 changed its regulations to include gender expression, gender identity, and affectional or sexual orientation in the definition of ‘sex,’” Dr. Rosica wrote. “According to the PHRC, every school district is legally obligated to follow the regulations, despite the executive orders.”

The Supreme Court’s ruling from March 2 is below:

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