Supreme Court Affirms Parental Rights in 6-3 Mahmoud v. Taylor Victory
Today, June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court delivered a historic 6-3 victory in Mahmoud v. Taylor, striking down a Montgomery County, MD school board policy that mandated LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum for pre-K to 12th-grade students without allowing parents to opt out. The Court ruled that this policy violates parents’ First Amendment right to religious free exercise, reaffirming their fundamental authority to guide their children’s moral and religious upbringing. The Child & Parental Rights Campaign (CPRC) is thrilled to have supported this landmark win through our amicus brief, and we celebrate this triumph for families nationwide!
The Impact of This Victory
In Mahmoud v. Taylor, a diverse group of parents—representing Christian, Muslim, and Jewish faiths—challenged a Montgomery County policy that required instruction using “LGBTQ+-inclusive” storybooks, denying parents the right to exempt their children. The policy went beyond exposure, exerting psychological pressure on children to adopt views on sexuality and gender and reject their families’ religious beliefs. The school board claimed the policy was necessary for a “safe and conducive learning environment,” but the Supreme Court rejected this, stating: “A classroom environment that is welcoming to all students is something to be commended, but such an environment cannot be achieved through hostility toward the religious beliefs of students and their parents.”
The Court applied strict scrutiny, finding the policy was not narrowly tailored and imposed a substantial burden on parents’ religious exercise. By granting a preliminary injunction, the Court ensures the policy cannot be enforced while the case proceeds, protecting parents from having to choose between exposing their children to burdensome instruction or paying for alternative education. The Court emphasized: “The loss of First Amendment freedoms, for even minimal periods of time, unquestionably constitutes irreparable injury.”
This ruling is a seismic shift. It affirms that parents, not schools, hold the primary role in shaping their children’s values. It strengthens CPRC’s ongoing efforts in cases like Willey v. Sweetwater Co. Sch. Distr. and Perez v. Clay Co. Distr. Schools, which challenge similar school overreaches, and sets a precedent that could bolster future fights against secretive policies, such as those enabling sex denial (“gender transitions’) without parental consent.
CPRC played a key role by filing an amicus curiae brief on behalf of two parent groups, Our Duty USA and Partners for Ethical Care, urging the Court to uphold parents’ constitutional rights. Our brief, available here, emphasized the harm of policies that pressure children into ideological conformity against their parents’ beliefs.
“This ruling is a powerful rebuke to school boards that pressure kids to reject their parents’ teachings and adopt contrary government-sanctioned beliefs,” said Vernadette Broyles, CPRC President & General Counsel. “The Supreme Court has reaffirmed that parents, not government employees, hold the primary role in shaping their children’s values.”
Your Role in This Triumph
Your support made this victory possible. As a CPRC supporter, you enabled us to:
- File a Strategic Amicus Brief: Our brief for parent groups, Our Duty USA and Partners for Ethical Care, reinforced the parents’ case, amplifying their voices in the Supreme Court.
- Champion Parental Rights: Your generosity fuels our work in cases like Willey and Perez, aligning with the principles upheld in Mahmoud v. Taylor.
- Protect Families: Your backing ensures we can stand with parents fighting to preserve their constitutional rights.
This win belongs to you, too! Your trust in CPRC helped us score a monumental victory for parents and kids across America.
What’s Next?
This ruling is a major milestone, but the fight continues. The precedent set in Mahmoud v. Taylor empowers us to challenge school policies that exclude parents, including those that secretly facilitate sex-denying “gender” transitions. With your continued support, we’ll keep defending every parent’s right to guide their child’s upbringing.
Donate Now
To read the Supreme Court’s full decision, visit www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24pdf/24-297_4f14.pdf.
Thank you for standing with us. Let’s celebrate this victory and charge toward the next!