A school policy that's been at the center of fiery debates appears to have the backing of most New Jersey residents.

A new Rutgers Eagleton poll out today finds a slim majority of adults in the state believe a teacher shouldn't be required by law to share a trans student's identity with their parents.

If the student doesn't feel safe coming out on their own.

The policy, known as 5756 became a flashpoint in the parental rights conflict, with opponents saying it undermines a parent's relationship with their child.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has the details.

Of the school board.

Culture wars over parents demanding to be told of their child's transgender tend to showcase loud voices and partisan politics on both sides.

Now a new Rutgers Eagleton poll takes us statewide snapshot of how Jersey residents overall see the issue.

And a slim majority say teachers should not be required by law to out students to parents.

If the kids don't feel safe about it.

We see only about three in ten who are on the side of the teacher being compelled to say something to the parents.

When New Jerseyans certainly recognize that transgender students are facing things like bullying and depression and anxiety and harassment and potentially don't feel safe in their homes.

Poll director Ashley Koning explains.

When asked Should teachers outran students who don't feel safe?

54% of those polled said don't tell.

31% said do tell and 15% weren't sure.

With a 2.8% margin for error politically, 72% of Democrats said don't tell, as did 48% of independents.

But only 34% of Republicans agreed with that.

This poll tells us that, first of all, you know, more New Jerseyans favor keeping kids safe than favor outing kids into unsafe homes.

I think that that's the bottom line and the basis for this.

Lauren Albrecht with Garden State Equality.

She says a politically charged atmosphere and high profile cases like the death of trans teen Next Benedict in Oklahoma have sharpened debate over anti LGBTQ bullying.

The parents rights movement and school safety.

What do polls really show?

So if you phrase the question like, do you think parents rights should be taken away?

Well, no.

Nobody thinks that parents rights should be taken away.

If you phrase the question like, should we support kids in our school environments to come out in a healthy and safe manner, well, then, yes, you're going to get a lot more.

Well, yes, of course.

She says New Jersey's transgender education guidance policy five, seven, five six, remains a flashpoint.

It advised the schools to keep a student's gender identity change private, even from families.

So far, only a handful of districts here have actually repealed or tried to rewrite it.

Five, seven, five.

Six newly elected board members revoked the policy last month and all bridge new board members in Fort Lee may prevail there in efforts to rewrite it at a meeting tonight.

Unfortunately, I think it's going to be very ugly tonight.

School parent Brad Raimondo notes that New Jersey's attorney general has sued districts that tried to tweak five, seven, five, six but clashed with the state law against discrimination.

Political slogans notwithstanding, keeping this policy in place is in the best interest of the kids.

And in the best interest of the town.

If for no other reason than because repealing and replacing could very easily be inviting a lawsuit.

He expects a raucous hearing fueled by outside lobbyists who've become regulars at such meetings.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News.