Appeals Court Weighs Parental Rights Case Against Jeffco Schools

By Savana Kascak | Complete Colorado

DENVER–The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month heard oral arguments in a lawsuit brought against Jefferson County Public Schools for rooming an 11-year-old girl in the same bed as a biological boy during an overnight trip. Plaintiffs’ lawyers told the court that school leaders told the girl to lie to her parents about the reasoning behind her distress while staying with the transgender student.

As previously reported by Complete Colorado, the daughter of Joe and Serena Wailes went on a school trip to Philadelphia and Washing D.C. upon finishing the fifth grade. While on the trip, she was assigned the same room and bed as a biological boy who identified as a female.

School officials had assured parents that boys and girls would be roomed on separate floors during the trip, but school policy states that room accommodations can be determined based on preferred gender.

Growing uncomfortable sharing the bed, the girl called her mother, who had accompanied her on the trip, who in turn called a chaperone to inform the school of the situation. According to lawyers for the family, the chaperone told the girl to go back to the same room, switch beds, and lie to her parents about the reasons.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT COMPLETE COLORADO