The Department of Justice has sued Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools for allegedly facilitating “secret gender transitions” without parental consent.
The first-of-its-kind lawsuit targets the district’s “transgender guideline,” which, the agency claims, directs staff to develop transition plans based on a student’s gender identity, according to the lawsuit.
The U.S. Department of Education opened a FERPA investigation in August 2025 amid concerns that the guidance interfered with parents’ rights to access their children’s education records. The district said the guidance was never formally adopted by the school board.
In a July 31 interview with KSHB 41, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Superintendent Anna Stubblefield said she could not recall an instance where the district withheld transgender status information from a parent.
“There’s nowhere in the guidance where we say ‘withhold information from parents,” she told the news outlet. “We have no reason or incentive to withhold information from parents about anything that they’re entitled to for their students.”
The district said it maintains full compliance with federal law “contrary to the allegations” and is “disappointed” with the decision, according to a statement obtained by District Administration.
Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools has used gender-affirming policies since 2017, with its current version in use since 2024, the DOJ contends.
The district allegedly violated federal student privacy law on three counts:
- Count I: The district’s policy prevents parents from reviewing their children’s education records, violating FERPA.
- Count II: The district fails to give parents a chance to correct misleading information contained in their student’s “gender plan,” violating FERPA.
- Count III: The district requires minor students to participate in evaluations that reveal sensitive personal information without first obtaining parental consent, thereby violating PPRA.
The battle against K-12 transgender guidance
The lawsuit comes more than a week after the Education Department’s Dear Colleague Letter to schools reminding leaders to comply with parental rights law.
Over the summer, the Education Department notified several schools and education agencies of federal violations, including Burlington Public Schools in Massachusetts.
The district allegedly refused to let parents opt their students, as early as seventh grade, out of a survey about their sexual encounters, drug and alcohol use and their gender identities.
The district was asked to send apology letters to families who filed complaints and submit all future surveys that may contain sensitive questions to the Education Department for review.
This story will be updated as details emerge about the lawsuit involving Kansas City Schools.
