CHENEY, Wash. – Cheney Public Schools is under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights for having a policy that lets students participate in sports based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
The U.S. Department of Education announced the investigation on January 14 and said policies that designate sports based on gender identity rather than biological sex violate Title IX laws.
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.
“These policies jeopardize both the safety and the equal opportunities of women in educational programs and activities,” the Department of Education wrote in its announcement.
Cheney Public Schools was one of eighteen school districts listed in the Department of Education’s investigation.
The list included four districts in Washington and four in California, as well as districts in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Vermont. The Hawaii State Department of Education and New York City Department of Education were also included.
The Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction said it was aware the U.S. Department of Education had opened Title IX investigation into entities across the country and into the four in Washington.
“Washington state law prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity, and school districts are acting in alignment with state law when they provide trans students with the opportunity to participate in athletics in alignment with their gender identity,” the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction said.
The investigation was announced in the same week the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments about the .
The U.S. Department of Education said the new investigation was prompted by complaints submitted to its Office of Civil Rights.
“OCR is aggressively pursuing allegations of discrimination against women and girls by entities which reportedly allow males to compete in women’s sports. Time and again, the Trump Administration has made its position clear: violations of women’s rights, dignity, and fairness are unacceptable,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said.
