Stop Secret Counseling of Students Act
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To President
- Became Law
Overview
This bill would cut federal education funding to public schools that provide gender identity counseling, therapy, or guidance to minors without parental involvement, addressing parental notification and consent in school-based mental health services.
Why it matters: Christian families concerned about parental authority over their children's medical and psychological care—especially on sensitive topics like gender identity—would see this as protecting their right to be informed and involved in decisions affecting their children's mental health and upbringing.
Topic: Parental rights · classifier confidence 92%
What this changes
Amends existing law
Law today: The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 provides federal funding to public elementary and secondary schools. Currently, schools may provide counseling, therapy, or guidance on various topics, including gender identity, without federal restrictions on age or parental involvement.
If passed: This bill would prohibit schools receiving federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act from providing counseling, therapy, or guidance related to gender identity to any student under 18 years of age. A school that provides such services would lose eligibility for federal funding.
AI-generated from the bill text — verify against the official text.
Likely supporters & opponents
Likely support
- Parental-rights advocacy organizations — Parents should be informed of and have a say in counseling related to gender identity before schools engage minors in such discussions.
- Religious and faith-based groups — Schools should not provide therapeutic guidance on gender identity that may conflict with family religious values and beliefs about human sexuality.
- Concerned parent advocacy groups — The bill ensures transparency and parental authority over sensitive counseling rather than allowing schools to address identity issues privately with minors.
Likely opposition
- Civil-liberties and LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations — Denying students access to counseling support may harm vulnerable youth and violates their right to confidential guidance.
- School administrators and counselors' associations — The bill restricts professional judgment and may prevent counselors from offering necessary mental-health support to students in crisis.
- Medical and mental-health organizations — Standard therapeutic practice supports youth access to counseling on identity questions, and blanket restrictions contradict evidence-based care guidelines.
AI-inferred typical positions based on the bill’s substance — general stakeholder categories, not confirmed endorsements.
Should I support this?
Likely helpful for Christian families
The bill empowers parents to oversee and direct counseling on gender identity, aligning with Christian family values of parental authority in raising children and having decisions on sensitive matters guided by family beliefs rather than school staff acting independently. It does not ban counseling outright but ties continued school funding to parental transparency and involvement in such discussions.
An AI assessment from a Christian-family perspective — religious freedom, parental rights, and freedom in education — not legal or voting advice.
Official summary
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit funds under such Act from being provided to public elementary and secondary schools that provide counseling, therapy, or guidance related to gender identity to students under 18 years of age, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
- Anna Luna (R)
Status timeline
- 2026-03-18Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.H
- 2026-03-18Introduced in HouseH
H = House · S = Senate · A = Assembly