Press Release: 4/21/2026

Supreme Court Leaves in Place MA Public School Policy Supporting Transgender Students

 

April 20, 2026

 

Today the Supreme Court left in place a First Circuit ruling rejecting a request by parents of a Massachusetts middle school student that teachers and counselors be required to tell a parent of the name and pronouns their child chooses to use at school, without regard to the student’s circumstances.

GLAD Law Senior Staff Attorney Chris Erchull issued the following statement:

“We want every child to have a safe and effective learning environment, and research shows that a positive school climate creates better outcomes for all students. When teachers acknowledge and respect students, including using students’ requested names and pronouns, it creates safety that allows learning to flourish. Supporting students means taking their specific circumstances into consideration, including the student’s age and concerns about abuse or rejection, and empowering them to share important parts of themselves with their families on their own terms. The lower courts rightly found no constitutional mandate that schools automatically disclose such information without the student’s consent. There is an important and long-recognized partnership between schools and parents: parents have a right to be involved in their children’s education and school officials have a responsibility to manage the learning environment in ways that promote academic success and ensure all students have the chance to thrive.”

The case is Foote v. Ludlow. GLAD Law submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in the First Circuit Court of Appeals with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, describing how a positive school climate is crucial to educational success for all students.