A different judge reached a different conclusion with Chino Valley Unified, with a preliminary ruling that the parent-notification policy was discriminatory and, therefore, illegal. The analysis by the California Department of Education or CDE, as laid out in its report to the Murrieta district, aligns closely with that of the judge in the Chino Valley case.

"The CDE finds the District's policy ... on its face singles out and is directed exclusively toward one group of students based on that group's legally protected characteristics of identifying with or expressing a gender other than that identified at birth," the state letter says. "And the application of that policy adversely impacts those students." Moreover, the Murrieta policy "does not expressly or implicitly provide any educational or school administrative purpose justifying ... discrimination."

The report says that districts that fail to comply can face a court order and could ultimately lose funding.

The Chino Valley school system recently revised its policy in hopes that it will survive legal challenge while still accomplishing the original intent.

Chino Valley school board president Sonja Shaw said parents in Murrieta and Chino Valley have expressed frustration over the state's position and urged her to press on.

"We will continue to stand strong linked arms all over California to ensure the government does not infringe on parental rights. Period," Shaw said.

For those opposing the policy, the success of the teachers' complaint with state officials could suggest a roadmap for elsewhere, said Amanda Mangaser Savage, who is representing teachers and parents trying to overturn the Temecula policy they define as forced outing.

"What we're likely to see is other educators submitting CDE complaints, which CDE would then handle similarly," Mangaser Savage said.

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