Opinion: Let Parents Opt Out — If They Want Their Kids Left Behind, That’s Their Choice

1TVPAC Team

Public schools are in the business of offering education, not enforcing it at gunpoint. Too often, districts treat parental opt-outs like a threat to the system, when in reality they’re just a reflection of choice. 

If parents want to pull their kids out of health class, history lessons, literature, locker rooms, or extracurriculars, let them. It’s not the district’s role to force feed knowledge to unwilling families.

The Supreme Court has already affirmed that parents have broad rights in this area. In Mahmoud v. Taylor (2025), the Court underscored that the right “to direct the religious upbringing of their children” follows those children into the classroom. 

California’s Education Code § 51240 also reinforces that parents can seek accommodations when instruction conflicts with religious belief. 

These protections exist for a reason: schools offer opportunities, but families decide how to use them.

The Temecula Valley Unified and Murrieta Valley Unified school districts’ job is to set the table — math, science, literature, arts, athletics, civics, and yes, lessons about identity, sexuality, and history. 

But the district can’t force every child to eat from every dish. If a parent says, “Not for us,” fine. The buffet doesn’t close just because someone walks past a tray.

We should stop treating opt-outs as a bureaucratic nightmare. No forms. No arguments. No drawn-out debates about whether a belief is “sincerely held.” 

If a family doesn’t want their child in the room, let them walk out.

The beauty of this approach is that reality does the teaching. 

If a child skips science, they’ll struggle on the test. If they avoid literature, they’ll lack exposure to ideas. If they miss health and social-emotional lessons, they may be less prepared for adulthood. 

Those are the consequences, and they’ll show up naturally.

No district policy can shield a child from the fallout of willful ignorance. Students who miss material won’t be as competitive in college, the workplace, or the broader world. That’s not the school’s fault; it’s a direct outcome of parental choice.

The existing TVUSD “Religious Accommodation Request Forms” are still rooted in suspicion. They ask parents to explain beliefs, prove conflicts, and await administrative review. That’s wasted energy. 

Schools shouldn’t be in the business of interrogating religion, morals, or parenting styles. Just honor the request and move forward.

Every minute a district spends wrangling with opt-out battles is a minute lost for students who are eager to learn. Schools should pour resources into supporting those kids, expanding programs, and improving outcomes — not chasing down families who have already made it clear they’re not interested in what’s being offered.

Let’s be blunt: if a parent wants to wall their child off from knowledge, that’s on them. Schools shouldn’t block the door, but they also shouldn’t be blamed when that student falls behind. The system works best when it offers opportunity without coercion.

Education is a two-way street. Schools provide the road. If some families refuse to drive, that’s their choice — but it’s not the district’s job to stop traffic for them.