A public school in Monmouth County is turning into a political battleground after it was announced this week that U.S.

Education Secretary Lyndon McMahon is heading to Cedar Drive Middle School in Colts Neck on Friday.

It's all part of the Trump Administration's America 250 Civics Push, marking the nation's 250th birthday.

That effort includes conservative partners like Turning Point USA, Moms for Liberty, and the Christian School Hillsdale College.

Parents in the district are circulating a petition to cancel the assembly, saying schools should be politically and religiously neutral.

With some warning they'll keep their kids home out of concern they'll be exposed to partisan messaging.

But district leaders insist the program isn't political.

It will include an assembly, classroom visits from the secretary, and smaller roundtable discussions with the local board of ed.

Critics point to other partners involved, like the America First Policy Institute and PragerU, that will be distributing resources to the school.

PragerU is a conservative advocacy group that came under fire last summer for creating a video for kids that some said rationalized slavery.

The visit comes on the heels of a recently adopted Parental Bill of Rights policy by the district that drew criticism from LGBTQ and other advocates who say it will hurt gay and transgender kids.

With some parents posting online they'll use that same policy to justify attending tomorrow's event.