Portland Public Schools rescinds campus ban on Allison Roberts

Portland Public Schools has rescinded a one-year trespass order against Allison Roberts, a parent who was banned from school grounds after criticizing the district’s gender identity curriculum. The district confirmed it agreed to rescind the trespass notice in mid-November.

The decision follows a lawsuit filed in August by the Liberty Justice Center on behalf of Roberts. In addition to lifting the campus ban, the district agreed to withdraw previous warnings that Roberts had violated school policies and formally recognize her First Amendment right to peacefully distribute materials on public sidewalks.

Dispute Over Gender Curriculum

The conflict began when Roberts expressed concerns regarding Meriwether Lewis Elementary School’s decision to replace a traditional rainbow pride flag with an “Intersex-Inclusive Progress” variant. The new flag was repainted to include support for transgender rights and racial inclusion. Roberts also objected to an “identity flower” assignment given to her 11-year-old child, which required students to identify and discuss their gender identity with teachers and classmates.

After receiving a response from the school she described as unsatisfactory, Roberts distributed an open letter criticizing the policies on a public sidewalk outside the school. In response, the district accused Roberts of “harassment, intimidation and threatening behavior” and a pattern of “animus and harassment targeting vulnerable members of [the] community.” This led to a February 2026 ban that prevented Roberts from attending school events, including her child’s graduation ceremony.

Settlement Terms and Legal Reaction

As part of the settlement, Portland Public Schools will review its anti-harassment and nondiscrimination policies and exempt Roberts’ children from certain LGBTQ2SIA+-related learning activities and curriculum requirements for the 2026-27 school year.

Timothy Snowball, lead attorney for the Liberty Justice Center’s PARENTS Initiative, called the outcome a “victory” and stated the district recognized its actions were unconstitutional. Snowball claimed the district changed its position after a federal judge explained why their conduct was unconstitutional, just two days before negotiations began. Snowball said, “The timing of this settlement is not a coincidence,” adding that the district had been “set on fighting Allison Roberts” until the meeting with the judge. He noted that the situation shows “the students aren’t the only ones in Portland who need an education on basic civics.”

Snowball further stated in a separate statement that “Portland Public Schools tried to silence a mother who dared to question what was happening in her children’s school” and that the result is a “major victory” for parents told to “stay quiet and leave these decisions to school officials.” He added that parents hold a “fundamental right to direct their children’s upbringing and education.”

Roberts told Fox News Digital that she felt reassured that bringing the suit was the right choice because she is “fighting this battle not just for my family, but for millions of American families.”

Portland Public Schools stated that it “has and will continue to comply with all laws that serve and protect children.”

Ongoing Policy Challenges

While the trespass order has been lifted, legal disputes regarding district transparency remain. The Liberty Justice Center continues to challenge policies that they claim allow school officials to withhold information from parents about their children. Snowball said the district continues to defend policies that let officials withhold important information “under certain circumstances.”

A hearing to address these broader policy concerns is scheduled for Dec. 1.