CHINO VALLEY UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
Our Motto:
Student Achievement • Safe Schools • Positive School Climate
Humility • Civility • Service
DATE: April 17, 2025
TO: Members, Board of Education
FROM: Sonja Shaw, President, Board of Education
SUBJECT: FEDERAL COMPLAINT TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION &
PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ADMINISTRATION
====================================================================
BACKGROUND
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a U.S. federal law enacted in
1974, establishes certain rights for parents regarding their children’s educational records,
which includes granting parents and eligible students, certain rights regarding control
over access to and dissemination of educational information. This ensures the
relationship between school and family is open, strong, controlled, and involved.
In July 2024, AB 1955 was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and used to limit parental
rights related to their children’s welfare and rights - particularly in cases related to
education, medical decisions, and other important areas of child-rearing. The so-called
framework of AB 1955 claims to safeguard student’s privacy and confidentiality related to
education records and clearly contradicts the very nature of FERPA, which was to protect
student records from unauthorized third-party disclosure ---not from parents and family.
President Shaw submitted this agenda item in accordance with Board Bylaw 9322—
Agenda/Meeting Materials.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommend the Board of Education direct the Superintendent to file a formal complaint to
the U.S. Department of Education and President Trump’s administration, citing California’s
violations of parental rights and student protections, and requesting immediate federal
intervention.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
SS:pk
April 17, 2025
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April 18, 2025
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100
Re: Formal Complaint – Violations of Parental Rights and Student Protections by the
State of California
Dear President Trump and Officials at the U.S. Department of Education:
On behalf of the Chino Valley Unified School District (CVUSD) Board of Education, we
respectfully submit this formal complaint to bring urgent attention to ongoing violations of
parental rights and student protections committed by Governor Gavin Newsom and the
California Department of Education (CDE), under the leadership of State Superintendent
Tony Thurmond.
California has enacted active legislation—now law—that directly infringes on the
constitutional rights of parents and students. These are not mere policies or suggestions.
They are state-mandated laws that compel school districts to withhold critical information
from parents regarding their own children, particularly when it comes to sensitive issues
like gender identity and mental health.
When CVUSD implemented a common-sense parental notification policy—ensuring that
parents are informed about vital decisions impacting their child’s safety and wellbeing—
we were sued by the State of California. Following this legal attack, Governor Newsom
signed into law AB 1955, a dangerous measure that codifies secrecy and strips parents
of their God-given rights.
Even more egregiously, Governor Newsom has publicly claimed that AB 1955 was
necessary to protect teachers from termination. But he is fully aware that CVUSD’s policy
never placed that obligation on teachers—it clearly assigned responsibility to school
administrators. His statements are deliberately misleading and serve to justify the
unconstitutional targeting of parental authority.
Despite the ongoing legal battles, CVUSD has adopted a new policy that still allows us to
inform parents of artificial or official record changes related to their child. However, even
with this carefully crafted workaround, millions of children across California remain
April 17, 2025
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Violations of Parents Rights and
Student Protections by the State of California
April 18, 2025
Page 2
completely unprotected. While Chino Valley Unified School District continues to stand in
the gap for our families, students in districts across the state are left without any parental
safeguards—vulnerable to harmful secrecy, manipulation, and state overreach.
These actions:
• Violate Title IX by promoting state-mandated directives that undermine fairness in
athletics and compromise safety in restrooms and locker rooms.
• Contradict the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by allowing
schools to withhold vital student information from parents.
• Trample constitutional rights that guarantee parents a primary role in decisions
affecting their children’s lives, safety, and moral upbringing.
Our District has been targeted, harassed, and punished for doing what’s right: standing
with families and upholding transparency. Just like the California Interscholastic
Federation (CIF) is being held accountable for Title IX violations, our District is being held
hostage by the same unlawful state pressure.
We respectfully request immediate federal intervention to:
1. Investigate California’s active laws and directives that violate federal protections
and strip parents of their rights.
2. Defend local school districts who are punished for aligning with federal law and
constitutional principles.
3. Restore the rightful role of parents in decisions affecting their children’s education,
privacy, and safety.
We are ready to provide full documentation, including court filings, District policies, and
communication records. We urge your administration to take swift and decisive action to
stop this abuse of power and uphold the laws that protect American families.
Sincerely,
Sonja Shaw, President Jonathan Monroe, Vice President
Board of Education Board of Education
Andrew Cruz, Clerk James Na, Member
Board of Education Board of Education
John Cervantes, Member
Board of Education
April 17, 2025
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