Supreme Court Gives Parents Right to Opt Out of Any School Lesson

The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in Mahmoud v. McKnight that Montgomery County, Maryland parents have a First Amendment free exercise right to remove their children from school lessons that conflict with their religious beliefs, including lessons featuring LGBTQ-inclusive books. The majority held the school district's refusal to provide opt-outs substantially burdened the parents' religious practice. The ruling expanded parental rights in public education and created new tension with anti-discrimination curricula.