To: Edison Board of Education

We, the undersigned, request the abolition of Edison School Policy 5756, which prevents schools from informing parents about their child’s identity change.

This policy states that:

• The school district shall accept a student’s asserted gender identity and name change; parental consent is not required.  A legal or court-ordered name change is not required.
• Schools have no duty to notify parents of their child’s identity change.

Our Concerns:

• Parental Exclusion: The policy assumes parents won't support their child's important life decisions, undermining trust between families, students, and schools.
• Lack of Communication: By excluding parents from critical conversations, the policy weakens the family's ability to provide emotional and psychological support.

Support for LGBTQ Rights: It is important to note that this petition is not about violating or undermining LGBTQ rights. We stand firm in our commitment to protecting the rights of all students, including LGBTQ students, as required by New Jersey's anti-discrimination laws, such as the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD). Abolishing this policy does NOT diminish LGBTQ protections but rather ensures parents are informed about their child’s life decisions and transparency between schools and families.

Our Request:

• Abolish Policy 5756 so parents are informed while maintaining full protections for LGBTQ students.
• Maintain a collaborative relationship between schools and parents to support student well-being and success.
• We do not advocate for disclosing this information to anyone other than parents or legal guardians, and we do not seek to interfere with a student’s rights or choices regarding their identity.

This is not about discrimination but about empowering parents to fulfill their role in supporting their children during critical life transitions. Parental involvement is essential for a child’s success and well-being, and transparency is key to fostering a trusting relationship between schools and families.

Please sign below to support the abolition of Policy 5756 and advocate for the rights of both parents and students in our schools.