WILL Releases New Model Policy & Resources Following SCOTUS Parental Rights Decision

The News: Following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, WILL is releasing a new model school board policy and additional tools to equip parents, teachers, and school administrators across the country to protect the fundamental right of families to raise their children. This comes after the SCOTUS ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor, which confirmed that public schools must accommodate religious objections to curriculum that contradicts values and teachings at home.

The Quotes: WILL Education Counsel, Cory Brewer, stated, “As students head back to school, our new model policy and resources will empower parents to stand up for their rights and will equip school leaders to comply with new Supreme Court precedent. Parents, not government officials, have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children, and that principle must be upheld in every school.”

As the 2025-2026 school year approaches, WILL is offering new resources to equip parents and help school districts comply with SCOTUS, including:

• Template Opt-Out Letter: A customizable, downloadable letter that parents can use to notify their child’s school of their decision to opt out of instruction on controversial topics, such as gender ideology, sex education, race instruction, religious rights or practices, mandated use of pronouns, and school gender identity policies.
• Template Notice Letter for Teachers: A practical tool that helps teachers provide families with advance notice of sensitive curriculum content and inform them of their opt-out rights. This resource supports educators in respecting parental rights and complying with the law – without adding unnecessary burden to their workload.
• Model School Board Policy: A ready-to-adopt policy framework for school boards to ensure district-wide compliance with Mahmoud v. Taylor. This model policy helps districts proactively align with the new legal precedent, reduce liability risk, and promote transparency with families. School boards committed to good governance will want to strongly consider adopting it.
• FAQ Explainer on Mahmoud v. Taylor: A plain-language summary of the case that sparked national attention. This FAQ explains what led to the lawsuit, what the U.S. Supreme Court held regarding the Free Exercise Clause and parental rights, and what the decision means for schools, teachers, and families moving forward.

Background: In Mahmoud v. Taylor, the Court ruled that the Montgomery County School District in Maryland violated the First Amendment by blocking parents’ ability to opt their children out of reading books with LGBTQ+ themes that conflicted with their religious beliefs.

Restoring American Education Project: Restoring American Education (RAE) is an initiative within WILL to engage parents, school board members, and teachers, with not just an understanding of these concerns and trends, but with solutions and resources available to them. As part of this effort, WILL provides school board members with model policies and legal resources on a variety of topics to implement in their district. Learn more at www.RestoringAmericanEducation.org.