A school district of Massachusetts is at the center of a battle on parental rights after administering a health investigation to college students at the end of March who asked children as young as 11 sexually explicit questions despite the fact that parents leave their children.
Burlington public schools (BPS) informed parents on March 6 via an application called Parents -Ququare on its plans to administer the investigation into risky behavior for young 2025 to students in Marshall Simonds Middle School.
The survey, which is part of a national initiative developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Asked students with sensitive alcohol issues, drug use and gender identity.
A question of the 2025 investigation asked students if they had already had sex, describing the act in detail and providing the definitions of oral and anal sex. He also asked questions about the use of sex toys.
A screenshot of a question of college students was questioned in the context of the investigation into risky behavior of young people of 2025. (Fox News Digital / Keri Malm)
Fox News Digital spoke with three parents whose children took the controversial survey, two of which have chosen their child and have since filed federal complaints with the American Department of Education With the help of the Massachusetts Liberty Legal Center (MLLC), an organization that defends freedom of expression, religious freedom and parental rights.
“I felt absolutely sick to think that they were asking such explicit questions to children,” said Adrianne Simeone, a Burlington mother who chose her 13 -year -old son who came out of the investigation. “I spoke to my children of sex. My children know sexual reproduction, but I have not told them about anal sex or oral sex or sex toys. I do not think they were appropriate for minors of all ages, not to mention children as young as 11 years.”
The MLLC allegates that BPS has violated the protection of the amendment of students’ rights (PPRA), which stipulates that the schools of kindergarten to the 12th year which receive federal funding must inform parents and allow them to opt for their children investigations involving sensitive subjects.
A screenshot of a question of college students was questioned in the context of the investigation into risky behavior of young people of 2025. ((Fox News Digital / Keri Malm))
“By not eliminating the students who had been withdrawn by their parents, (they) in fact violated the federal law,” said Sam Whiting, legal advisor to MLLC. “We hope very much that the Ministry of Education, in particular Under the Trump administration, will follow and apply this law against the district. “”
Some students who had been withdrawn from the investigation by their parents have always been forced to take it, despite the protest, because their names were not on the opt-out list.
Teachers did not inform students that the investigation was voluntary, According to a request letter sent to members of the BPS school committee by MLLC.
Members of the Burlington Public School Committee at a meeting on April 1, 2025. ((Screenshot / YouTube channel of the BCAT government))))
David Hanafin told Fox News Digital that he was furious against the school district after his 11 -year -old son was also forced to respond to the investigation despite his withdrawal.
“We do not send our children to school to be indoctrinated. We do not send our children to school to have these discussions. You do not need to open their minds. You must teach them to read, To write, mathematics, Precise history, precise science and you send them back to them, and we will take care of the rest, “he said.
Hanafin, who has six children in the school district between primary, college and high school, said that he had an agreement with the Superintendent Eric Conti and the assistant superintendent Laura Chen to choose her children from all the investigations that affect sensitive subjects.
“My 11 -year -old daughter. She always writes her list to Santa Claus every year and she cannot wait Santa Claus to come And give him gifts. And then they ask him questions about anal sex and sex toys and that-how anyone in their good sense might say that this is in any way or an appropriate form, or what information they try to glean it, does not make sense, “he told Fox News Digital.
Uniondale, NY: Void Classroom at Walnut Street Elementary on April 3, 2024 in Uniondale, New York. ((Photo by Howard Schnapp / Newsday RM via Getty Images)))
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The survey on risk behavior of young people has been used nationally since 1991 to monitor health behavior changes over time and to collect data to guide policies on issues such as adolescent drug addiction, suicide and sexual health.
The 2023 version had questions about alcohol and the consumption of prescription drugs, as well as questions about gender identity, but the definition of sexual intercourse was modified in 2025 to be more inclusive of the LGBTQ +community, According to JSI, The organization of research and health advice which created the survey.
Simeone and Hanafin both signed federal complaints filed with The Department of Education. They also spoken against the investigation alongside more than a dozen other parents at a school committee meeting on April 1.
Parents whose children attend public schools in Burlington du Massachusetts denounce an investigation into health at a committee meeting on April 1, 2025. ((Screenshot / YouTube channel of the BCAT government))))
A third parent who spoke with Fox News Digital, but asked for anonymity out of fear of the backlash said that it had not signed the federal complaint but planned to do so.
She missed the notification of Parentsquare on the survey due to the large number of messages that the school sends in one day, so her daughter took it. She said she felt “sick” after seeing the questions.
School response
Superintendent Conti apologized At the April 1 meeting So that the deactivation policy is not honored, saying it was a “error”.
He said that some of the investigation definitions had been modified and added without BPS consent after their well-being committee examined them.
Conti also declared that he had been informed by the director of Marshall Simonds Middle School Tim McMahon only four withdrawal policies were not honored, a complaint disputed by other parents and MLLC.
Burlington’s superintendent of public schools, Eric Conti, speaks for a committee meeting on April 1, 2025. ((Screenshot / YouTube channel of the BCAT government))))
Christine Monaco, member of the school committee, told parents that she had found some of the definitions of the “horrible”, “inappropriate” and “disgusting” investigation.
“Some students knew the wishes of their parents and advocated for themselves, to be ignored, which is completely unacceptable. This cannot happen again. We, as a committee, must review our policies and explore Protections for our students And their families concerning student surveys and parents’ consent, “said another member.
The school committee voted unanimously on April 8 to suspend all student surveys until the adoption of a new policy and to withdraw all JSI funding from the upcoming budget.
BPS announced additional measures that it took following the fallout from the investigation, in particular the hiring of an independent consultant to examine the administration of the 2025 survey.
An inspiring quote from Nelson Mandela is printed at the door of a classroom at the Mitchell lower school of the John Cooper school on Tuesday, September 19, 2023 in the Woodlands. ((Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)))
“We remain attached to the transparency, responsibility and well-being of all students, and we appreciate our continuous collaboration with families and the wider community” ” Read an ad on the district website.
A mother of the April 8 meeting clearly indicated that she had had no problem with the questions of the investigation, and she did not find them “disgusting”, only a little “surprising”.
“I believe in the positive information that the supply provides,” she said, arguing for more representation of all groups of people.
Hanafin and Simeone told Fox News Digital that the school district had a history of disrespect parental rights And push inappropriate content to students, and they want someone to be responsible.
“I am really exhausted by the lack of respect for parents and our right to decide when and how we speak to children about these things,” said Simeone.
She recalled her pressure for greater transparency in the school district concerning the Spectrum Club, a student organization that Promoses LGBTQ +rights. Simeone said the club was not publicly listed on the Parentsquare application and that it had to fight for it publicly and require parental authorization.
“I think what is most important for parents to bring home is that you have to be a defender of your child. Do not wait for something to go wrong,” she told Fox News Digital. “Take this lesson here, this example, and bring it to Your school system, Your school committee, your superintendent, your director, and say to them: “I want to know exactly what is happening in our school system if you participate in activities like this.” »»
Hanafin has echoed similar feelings about the power of parents’ voices, arguing that they shouldn’t be afraid to speak for their children.
The parents of Burlington Adrianne Simeone (left) and David Hanafin (right) speak with Fox News after their children were forced to respond to a graphic health survey despite their retirement. (Jeffrey Basinger / Newsday RM via Getty Images | Fox News Digital)
“People are so afraid to express themselves against orthodoxy, and they make it very, very clear. And therefore, the school always pushes this side of sex, and parents are afraid to denounce themselves because they will be labeled, they will be marked homophobic, transphobic, Anyway, “he said.
Superintendent Conti and assistant superintendent Chen did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the incident.
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Julie Hartman, spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, said that the Federal Agency is committed to protecting parents’ rights:
“Children do not belong to the government; They belong to parents. Parents should be the main decision -makers with regard to the education of their child. The department will not tolerate the abuse of parents’ rights – or students victims of predatory behavior by adults who are supposed to protect them. “”