As promised, the Trump Administration has launched several investigations into school districts that it believes have violated Title IX and other federal policies. The Department of Education is featuring the enforcement actions prominently on its website and District Administration has compiled a list to help superintendents better understand how to avoid such conflicts.
Fairfax County Public Schools, Title VI
Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County has been accused of redesigning its 2020 admissions policy to change the demographic makeup of the entering class.
A Virginia Attorney General report found that the school board set out to alter the school’s admissions policies because it was dissatisfied with the racial composition of the school. The report also concluded that the school dropped its standardized testing requirements and began using a revised holistic review process instead of a meritocratic process.
“The Department of Education is grateful for the diligent work of Governor Youngkin and Attorney General Miyares for documenting a pattern of concerning practices at TJ,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
Saratoga Springs City School District, Title IX
In March, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY) sent a letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon urging the Office for Civil Rights to evaluate whether the school district’s policy violates federal law.
The particular school board resolution in question, “Affirming Our Support for Every Student,” states that, with regard to “transgender and gender-expansive students,” the district will “ensure their right to use facilities and participate in activities and sports consistent with their gender identity,” which directly violates current title IX regulations.
Evanston-Skokie School District 65, Title VI
A complaint was filed against the school district for its alleged violation of Title VI on behalf of a teacher. According to the complaint, the district engages in racial segregation and stereotyping through such policies and practices as “privilege walks” and district-sponsored segregated affinity groups.
The teacher previously filed a complaint toward the end of President Trump’s first term, but was later dismissed by the Biden Administration in 2024.
Washington State Superintendent’s Office, Title IX
An investigation was launched by the Title IX Special Investigations Team into the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction amid reports that school districts are being told to comply with state law that violates federal law. Specifically, the state superintendent’s office allegedly violated Title IX, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment.
Multiple Washington State school districts have reported that the state superintendent is requiring school boards to adopt policies that allow males to participate in female sports and occupy female-only intimate facilities.
Additionally, a letter of finding from the state superintendent to the La Center School District earlier this year raised concerns that districts are being required to implement policies that force districts not to notify parents of a change in their child’s gender identity.
Chicago Public Schools, Title VI
A complaint filed with the Office for Civil Rights alleges that the district has an academic achievement initiative that discriminates on the basis of race.
The complaint, filed by Parents Defending Education, calls out the district’s “Black Students Success Plan” for focusing on remedial measures only for Black students, despite acknowledging that Chicago students of all races struggle academically.
New York School Mascot Controversy, Title VI
The Office for Civil Rights is assessing whether New York’s threat to withhold funding if the Massapequa School District does not eliminate its Native American mascot constitutes discrimination on the basis of race and national origin.
The native American Guardians Association filed the complaint stating that the New York Department of Education and the New York Board of Regents is violating civil rights law by forcing the school district to get rid of its “Chiefs” mascot based on its association with Native American culture.
“The U.S. Department of Education will not stand by as the state of New York attempts to rewrite history and deny the town of Massapequa the right to celebrate its heritage in its schools,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon.
California Department of Education, FERPA
The Education Department’s Student Privacy Policy Office on Thursday launched an investigation into the California Department of Education amid allegations that state law prohibits school personnel from disclosing a child’s “gender identity” to parents.
Under the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act, parents have the right to access their children’s education records, request record corrections or amendments, and control disclosure of personally identifiable information in education records. California Assembly Bill 1955, which was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom and took effect on Jan. 1, directly violates FERPA, according to the Education Department.
“It is not only immoral but also potentially in contradiction with federal law for California schools to hide crucial information about a student’s wellbeing from parents and guardians,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
The state of Maine is facing a similar investigation.
Portland Public Schools, Title IX
The Office of Civil Rights on March 25 began investigating allegations that Portland Public Schools in Oregon permitted.
A male track athlete to compete in a girls’ interscholastic track and field competition while also allowing the student to use the girls’ locker room. The investigation also targets the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), the governing body for the Portland Interscholastic League, regarding its gender identity participation policy, the Department wrote.
“We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for Civil Rights.
According to some background information collected by the Department, the male athlete had previously competed in the girls’ track and field division over the last two seasons. In 2024, the high school student won both the girls’ 200-meter and 400-meter dashes at the 6A-1 Portland Interscholastic League Championship.
The district and OSAA reportedly permitted the same athlete to compete again this year at a Portland Interscholastic League meet and he proceeded to earn first place in the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes, outpacing the second-place female competitor by more than seven seconds in the latter race.
Chicago and Illinois, Title IX
The Illinois Department of Education, Chicago Public School District 299 and Deerfield Public Schools District 109 are under investigation for allegedly violating Title IX by requiring girls in the school to share their locker room with a boy.
According to a parent’s testimony during a Deerfield Public Schools District 109 school board meeting last month, female students at Shepard Middle School complained to school administrators that a boy was in their locker room while they were changing for gym class.
According to a complaint filed with OCR, an administrator told the female students that the male student had permission to use the female facilities as long as that student identifies as female.
In a statement, Deerfield Public Schools District 109 said that it follows Illinois state law, which “prohibits all public school districts from discriminating on the basis of sex, including gender identity, and mandates that students must be permitted access to the locker room and bathroom that aligns with their gender identity.”
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Maine Department of Education, Title IX
The Maine Department of Education was informed on March 19 that it had violated Title IX for allowing male athletes to compete in girls’ interscholastic athletics.
The Office of Civil Rights gave Maine 10 days to take the following actions:
- Remind districts that violating Title IX puts federal funding at risk
- Schools must forbid males to participate in female-related activities and recognize “man” and “woman” as the only two sexes
- Return individual awards that females would have otherwise earned if not for the male participant
- MDOE must send a letter of apology to the female athlete whose award was restored
- MDOE must rescind or revise prior guidance documents that permitted male athletes to participate in girls’ sports
- MDOE will require school districts to submit an annual certification of compliance with Title IX and notify OCR of any report that a school district is still violating Title IX
How to comply with current Title IX regulations
District Administration has covered the Trump Administration’s changes to Title IX extensively. In an interview with Dale Chu, a senior research fellow at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, he advised districts to take the Education Department’s guidance on Title IX seriously.
“The days of using DEI as a blank check for race-conscious policies are over,” he said.
He recommends that district leaders perform audits to ensure their programs are legally defensible. Those who don’t are “rolling the dice on a federal investigation,” he said.
Here’s a fact sheet provided by the Education Department that covers everything you need to know about the latest reversion back to Trump’s 2020 Title IX regulations.
