Statement from Dnistrian, Assemblywomen Piperno, & Eulner Regarding August State Board of Education Meeting

Colts Neck – August 4, 2023 – Yesterday, the New Jersey Board of Education approved controversial changes to sex education and gender identity rules that all state school districts must now follow. Under the new rules, schools that separate students for sex-ed classes must do so based on gender identity, and not biological gender. Schools may have separate classes for boys and girls but are not required to do so. The board also approved rules that will allow participation in certain school sports based on gender identity and not biological gender.

Across the state, students have fallen behind academically due to lingering effects of pandemic-related learning loss. Instead of prioritizing reading, writing, science, history and math, the State Board of Education – with the full support of Gov. Murphy and State Senator Vin Gopal – is infusing sex identity politics into the classroom, and very intentionally leaving parents out of these critical discussions.

We believe parents should have a voice in their children’s education and well-being, that children should be taught materials that are age-appropriate, and that these decisions are best made by bringing together parents, teachers, and local Boards of Education, not by unelected bureaucrats in Trenton.

The education of our children – and the ability of parents to be involved in that process – are at stake in this election. We’re running to fight back against Trenton’s misguided mandates, and to give parents a voice again.

Senator Vin Gopal has failed us as the Chairman of the Education Committee. From school funding cuts, to parental involvement in their children’s education; from the learning loss gap to opening the door for biological boys to play on girls school sports teams; Senator Gopal has the power to take on these issues. He has failed to do so – and it’s time for him to go.