The West Shore school board policy committee meeting halted abruptly on July 17. Local parent Danielle Gross challenged a last-minute agenda addition not listed on the district’s website the previous day. Gross, partner at a communications firm focused on state education policy, accused the board of violating Pennsylvania’s open meetings law by not providing 24-hour notice on a matter concerning LGBTQ student rights.
The committee chair adjourned the meeting for a nonpublic “executive session.” Upon reconvening, the policy was not discussed until meeting’s end when Heather Keller, a lone public commenter, referenced “Hamlet” to suggest something was amiss. The proposed policy, which would restrict trans students from using facilities aligned with their gender identity, mirrored a policy from the Harrisburg-based Independence Law Center (ILC), known for costly lawsuits in other districts.
“Being concerned about that, I remembered that we don’t partner with the Independence Law Center,” Keller said. “We haven’t hired them as consultants. And they’re not our district solicitor.”
In Pennsylvania, ILC’s influence has become controversial as numerous school boards have adopted policies echoing ILC’s anti-LGBTQ stance without acknowledging the source. In districts like West Shore, the board’s relationship with ILC remains unclear due to obstructed open records requests and reports of secretive dealings.
ILC’s recent prominence began around 2021, amid “parents’ rights” complaints on issues like pandemic-era masking and LGBTQ representation. In 2024, ILC made inroads with about a dozen central Pennsylvania districts, including West Shore, which, following protests, backed down from hiring ILC but still introduced ILC policies. The board passed a ban on trans students joining girls’ athletics teams after puberty and allowed officials to request doctors’ notes and birth certificates to enforce it.
ILC, founded after a Pennsylvania lawsuit in 2004, has financial links with Alliance Defending Freedom and has been part of Supreme Court cases expanding religious exemptions. Critics argue ILC systematically erodes civil rights protections for LGBTQ students. Despite backlash, ILC’s influence persists, especially in Lancaster and York counties, where several districts have adopted its model policies.
Amid rising local opposition, activists are wary that ILC seeks to bring a case to the Supreme Court to formalize discrimination against transgender students into law nationwide. In some districts, the adoption of ILC policies without admitting their origin reflects a strategy to avoid public scrutiny.
In response, the Education Law Center of Pennsylvania and local advocates stress the importance of transparency and urge districts to uphold legal obligations to create safe environments for all students. The local-level pushback has led to some positive shifts, like in Hempfield School District, where the board recently flipped to Democratic control, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity.
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