America First Legal (AFL) represents parents Matthew Foldi and Bethany Mandel in a lawsuit against Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) for violating their First Amendment and Maryland Open Meetings Act rights. In June 2023, MCPS denied them access to a school board meeting addressing community concerns over LGBT-themed books and the district’s removal of parents’ opt-out rights from certain curriculum. MCPS restricted physical attendance to invited guests and pre-selected speakers to limit protests, media coverage, and political fallout, effectively silencing dissenting voices.

In addition, Foldi and Mandel challenged MCPS’s decision to strip parents of the legal right to opt their children out of sexually explicit materials, in violation of Maryland law and longstanding policy. AFL’s litigation defended parental rights in education and culminated in a significant court victory. The court found that MCPS officials had exceeded their authority, reaffirming the fundamental role parents play in guiding their children’s education.