Supreme Court to Review Maryland Opt-Out Case

A group of Christian, Jewish, and Muslim parents in Montgomery County, Maryland, has petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to restore their right to opt their children out of LGBTQ-themed storybooks in schools. The controversy began when the Montgomery County Board of Education implemented a policy in March 2023 that removed parental notification and opt-out options for such materials, reversing an earlier policy that allowed parents to exclude their children from specific lessons. The parents argue that this change infringes on their First Amendment rights and violates their religious beliefs regarding gender and sexuality. Two lower courts have upheld the school board's decision, stating that parents did not demonstrate a burden on their free exercise of religion. The Becket Fund, representing the families, emphasizes that parents should have authority over their children's education concerning sensitive topics. The Supreme Court is expected to decide later this fall whether to hear the case.