Middletown repeals Policy 5756
Caption above: Middletown Board of Education Meeting, Feb 13,2025
(Left to Right): Middletown Board of Education President Frank Capone,, Middletown Board of Education Vice President Jacqueline Tobacco, Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger (R-Middletown)
What is Policy 5756?
1. It tells teachers and staff to use the pronouns that students choose, like calling someone “they” if that’s what they prefer.
2. It says that schools should keep information about a student’s gender identity private, sharing it only with people who need to know, like certain teachers or counselors, but NOT parents
3. It allows students to join sports teams and use bathrooms that match their gender identity, not their biological sex.
Last night, the Middletown school board voted to repeal Policy 5756 – Transgender Student Guidelines. As you probably know, the three M’s—Middletown, Marlboro, and Manalapan school boards—have been prohibited from taking any further action on Policy 5756 since New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin filed civil rights violations against them for amending the policy to include some form of parental notification of a child’s gender identity at school.
Despite nearly 30 school districts repealing Policy 5756 over the past year, the three M’s were powerless to do the same. They faced a preliminary injunction from the trial court judge that prevented them from implementing their revised Policy 5756, even though the Attorney General’s office conceded the policy is not mandated to begin with.
The good news is that this past Monday, the Appellate Court ruled in favor of the school boards, allowing them to repeal the policy! Middletown repealed it last night without any objections from the community. The special meeting lasted less than 5 minutes!
Tragically, the Appellate Court did not grant their request to remove the preliminary injunction, which would have allowed them to implement their revised guidelines. According to the court, the Attorney General is likely to succeed in his case, arguing that informing parents of a child’s gender identity violates the NJ Law Against Discrimination. Absolutely outrageous!
In the end, the only way to truly protect parents from the abusive power of the State is to replace Attorney General Matt Platkin. In New Jersey, unlike 41 other states, the Attorney General is appointed by the governor.
The good news is that this year we have the opportunity to elect a new governor, potentially bringing an abrupt end to this parent’s worst nightmare.
I want to encourage you to attend one of our upcoming local events in your area to learn more about the gubernatorial race and what the next governor can do. Click here to see dates and locations!
The Primary General is Tuesday, June 10
The General Election is Tuesday, November 4
In the last gubernatorial election, only 40% of registered votes participated. As a result, school boards and pregnancy resource centers have been dragged into court by the Attorney General.
Let’s educate our friends on the importance of voting and what is at risk in these upcoming elections. Parents are depending on us!
Allan F. Wright
Executive Director
Thriving Families Initiative!
Thought of the week
A mild answer turns back wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Prov. 15:1
We can all be tempted to speak harshly to those who speak harshly to us. In families, emotions can boil over and we can speak out of anger, not love. The interior peace we experience as Christians with Christ Jesus at the center of our lives should be reflected in how we respond to others, even family members who speak harshly.
