Courts Shield Parents Against School Secrets

The Supreme Court’s Mirabelli v. Bonta ruling signals that courts may treat school policies that conceal students’ social‑transition steps from parents as burdens on religious exercise and parental rights, triggering strict scrutiny. That approach reframes routine school confidentiality and name/pronoun policies as constitutional questions rather than purely educational practices. — If adopted more widely, this framing could force states and school districts to change confidentiality rules, reshape training for teachers, and expand litigation where parental religious beliefs conflict with school practices.