The Supreme Court reminds America parents are in charge
OPINION:
The Supreme Court’s ruling in the Mahmoud v. Taylor case is more than a legal win. It is a generational victory for American families. In siding with parents over school administrators in Montgomery County, Maryland, the court reaffirmed a foundational truth: The state does not raise children; parents do.
At issue in the case was a school district’s decision to strip parents of the right to opt their young children out of sexually explicit instructional material. The curriculum, introduced to kindergarten and elementary school students, contained content that many families found deeply objectionable on moral and religious grounds. But when parents objected, they were denied any recourse and told instead to stand down.
The Supreme Court just provided parents in Democrat-controlled states a get-your-kids-out-of-woke-indoctrination hall pass. Its decision put an end to that abuse of power. It upheld what the Constitution has always protected: the right of parents to direct the upbringing and education of their children, free from government interference.
The case was personal for many, including Moms for Liberty member Rosalind Hanson, a brave mother and petitioner who stood up for her child and every family facing similar overreach. Moms for Liberty CEO and co-founder Tina Descovich responded with clarity: “We do not co-parent with the government — and we are winning.”
This is not an isolated incident. Across the country, school districts backed by activist unions and unchecked bureaucracies have attempted to force controversial ideologies into classrooms while locking parents out of the conversation. These policies are not only misguided, but they also are unconstitutional.
The America First Policy Institute has long championed the cause of parental rights and educational freedom. Through policy initiatives, research and legal advocacy, AFPI has empowered families to reclaim their rightful place in their children’s education. From fighting for curriculum transparency and school choice to advocating for parental notification laws, AFPI has been at the forefront of restoring accountability and respect in America’s schools.
AFPI’s Center for Education Opportunity has developed model policies for state leaders that put parents first, requiring schools to disclose instructional materials, protect religious liberty in classrooms and create meaningful opt-out provisions for families. These efforts are rooted in a simple but powerful idea: When parents are empowered, children thrive.The Supreme Court’s ruling in Mahmoud v. Taylor aligns perfectly with that vision. It is a constitutional check on the kind of top-down governance that too often puts ideology before innocence and politics before parental authority.
This moment should serve as a wake-up call to local and state officials. America’s families are watching, organizing and winning. They are rejecting the notion that education should be used as a tool of social engineering. Instead, they are demanding that schools return to their original purpose of educating, not indoctrinating.
Importantly, this decision transcends politics. It’s not about left or right. It’s about right and wrong. No parent should be forced to choose between their values and their child’s safety at school. No mother or father should be kept in the dark about what their child is being taught. And no government should ever presume to take the place of a parent.