MoCo Schools Revise LGBTQ+ Inclusive Books Policy

ROCKVILLE, MD — Parents will no longer have the choice to opt their children out of classroom lessons at Montgomery County schools that center on LGBTQ+ inclusive books, according to a notice posted on the district's website.

The change comes two months after Montgomery County school leaders approved several LGBTQ+ inclusive texts for use in district elementary school classrooms. Officials approved one new book per grade level and allowed parents to opt their kids out of the lessons if desired.

That changed on March 23 when the district also said parents would no longer be notified when LGBTQ+ inclusive lessons take place.

"Students and families may not opt out of engaging with any instructional materials, other than 'Family Life and Human Sexuality Unit of Instruction' which is specifically permitted by Maryland law," a statement on the district's website reads. "As such, teachers will not send home letters to inform families when inclusive books are read in the future."

A Montgomery County Schools spokesperson told Patch the revision in policy was made to better align the policy with the school's Nondiscrimination, Equity, and Cultural Proficiency Policy.

"MCPS expects all classrooms to be inclusive and safe spaces for students, including those who identify as LGBTQ+ or have family members in the LGBTQ+ community," Montgomery County school officials said in a statement. "A broad representation of personal characteristics within curricular or instructional materials promotes this desired outcome. Therefore, as with all curriculum resources, there is an expectation that teachers utilize these inclusive lessons and texts with all students."

The policy has drawn praise from some and criticism from others.

Danielle Ibarra, whose child attends Damascus Elementary School, told FOX 5 she's already read one of the books to her other children.

"I think religion probably plays a big factor. I guess I'm just in the camp of, we're all in this together — so we should try to show that to our children too," Ibarra told FOX 5.

Meanwhile, a conservative group Moms for Liberty member told the school board during a January board meeting it was "pushing ideas of gender ideology" on children and "indoctrinating" them, MoCo360 reported.

The comments prompted some board members to defend the policy, according to MoCo360.

Board member Lynne Harris said the comments disturbed her, she told the publication.

"Transgender, LGBTQ individuals are not an ideology," she said. "They are a reality."