Investigation Launched into Massachusetts School District

The U.S. Department of Education has initiated an investigation into a Massachusetts school district over claims that students were indecently forced into participating in sexually explicit research, despite their parents opting them out.

On Monday, the department revealed that the Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) is looking into Burlington Public Schools (BPS). This scrutiny arises from allegations related to the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), which allows parents to refuse their child’s participation in surveys that involve confidential or personal student information.

The Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center has lodged complaints with the department on behalf of several parents concerning the 2025 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. In a letter sent in April, they urged the district to acknowledge the concerns of parents and amend their policy to adhere to the PPRA. This letter, also included in the department’s news announcement, raises specific allegations and includes screenshots from the 45-minute survey directed at all students in Marshall Simmons Middle School and Burlington High School back in March.

The survey posed questions such as, “Which of the following terms best describes your current gender identity?” and “What sex was assigned at birth on your original birth certificate?” Students were also asked about experiences related to sexual abuse, alcohol use, smoking, and their overall sexual history.

Prior to the sensitive questions, the survey provided definitions regarding gender identity and sexual orientation. It explained that gender identity is one’s self-perception and could align with or differ from the sex assigned at birth. Terms like “cisgender,” “trans,” “non-binary,” and “genderqueer” were noted to help students understand better.

According to the letter sent to BPS, students were reportedly informed they must partake in the survey unless their names appeared on a list of opted-out individuals. However, it was argued, “Many students who opted out were not even included on that list.” The letter described instances where teachers insisted students complete the survey, even when they expressed discomfort, such as one case where a teacher proceeded with an investigation against a student’s objection simply because the teacher wasn’t on the opt-out list.

This led to considerable frustration among parents, who felt that the school violated assurances made regarding their children’s exclusion from the investigation. Many voiced their concerns at a School Committee meeting on April 1.

The letter further contended that this isn’t the first time Burlington Public Schools has overstepped parental rights, citing previous complaints about the promotion of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and LGBTQ+ themes in the curriculum.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon stated that the department is committed to thoroughly examining the issue while also emphasizing parental rights. “Parents must be the primary decision-maker in their child’s education,” she remarked. “The allegations that Burlington infringed upon parental rights by carrying out the investigation against parents’ wishes are quite troubling.”

As of the time of publication, Burlington Public Schools had not provided any comments on the matter.