Contact: Chip White, ProtectMarriage.com, 916-215-4392

SACRAMENTO, October 22 /Christian Newswire/ -- Finding it necessary to acquaint them with state education laws and curriculum standards to which they appear to be unfamiliar, the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign today sent a letter to the Honorable Jack O'Connell, Superintendent of Public Instruction and Ted Mitchell, president of the California State Board of Education (BOE) to correct their recent statements to the media about Proposition 8 and the teaching of gay marriage in public schools.

Most interestingly, BOE President Mitchell seems unaware of guidelines on his own Web site, which state that 96 percent of school districts accept the technically voluntary sex education curriculum. Further, the California Department of Education (CDE) Web site notes specifically that in the 96 percent of school districts that do accept the curriculum, they are REQUIRED to include instruction and materials that "teach respect for marriage."

Both O'Connell and Mitchell recently expressed to the media that California law does not require public schools to educate children about marriage. This is at best a semantic attempt to mislead the voters. And it does not refute the assertion in "Yes on 8" advertising that gay marriage will be taught in public schools.

The letter identifies Education Code from the CDE Web site that clearly proves otherwise.

"As public officials, it is their duty to be truthful and transparent as it relates to all aspects of California's education law," said Andrew Pugno, general counsel to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign. "Regardless of personal views and feelings about gay marriage, the public has the right to be informed of the affects gay marriage will have on California's school children."

To read the letter, please visit our website: www.ProtectMarriage.com.