4 Kansas school districts' gender identity policies broke federal law: Education Dept.

The U.S. Department of Education said four Kansas public school districts violated federal law by imposing gender identity policies that involved concealing students’ so-called “gender transition” from their parents and allowing boys to enter girls' restrooms.  

On Friday, the Education Department announced that its Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) and Office for Civil Rights determined that these school districts implemented policies that violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. 

The investigation, which began in August 2025, focused on four school districts: Kansas City, Kansas Public School District, Olathe Public Schools, Shawnee Mission School District and Topeka Public Schools.

To avoid the termination of federal funding and other consequences, the Department of Education ordered the districts to change their policies. 

“These Kansas school districts have allowed ‘gender ideology’ to run amok in their schools. These policies not only violate federal law, but are contrary to the sound judgment we expect from our educational leaders, and thoroughly disrespectful to parents who entrust school personnel to keep their children safe,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in an April 17 statement. 

All four school districts had policies that the SPPO found “were likely to prevent schools from notifying parents of their child’s so-called ‘gender transition,’ even if the parent requested their child’s records,” which violates FERPA.

According to the Office for Civil Rights, the Kansas City, Kansas Public School District and Topeka Public Schools violated Title IX by allowing boys to enter girls' restrooms, changing rooms and locker rooms, as well as participate in single-sex athletic teams based on gender identity. 

The Office for Civil Rights also said that Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools denied it access to information, a violation of federal law.

In a press release provided to The Christian Post, Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools stated that it “disagrees with the U.S. Department of Education’s determination, which is not supported by the facts or law.” The school district’s press release included links to various policies and guidelines concerning trans-identified students, discrimination and sexual harassment. 

“[Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools] prohibits discrimination of any type in its programs or activities,” the school district’s press release stated. “KCKPS has acted and will continue to act in full good faith compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, including Title IX and FERPA.” 

The Office for Civil Rights also said that Olathe Public Schools and Shawnee Mission Public Schools’ policies allowing students to use restrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms based on their self-declared gender identity rather than their sex violated Title IX. 

“Schools should never subject girls to unsafe, uncomfortable, and unfair environments, nor should they abuse their authority by hiding the most sensitive information about a child’s health and wellbeing from that child’s parents,” Richey said in the Education Department's statement. “The Trump Administration will always protect students and parents by enforcing Title IX and parental rights laws to the fullest extent of the law.”

Olathe Public Schools pushed back against the accusations in a press release provided to CP, which claimed that the allegations "are completely unfounded or being grossly misrepresented, all on taxpayer time and money." 

"To be abundantly clear, Olathe has been in compliance — and will continue to comply with —
all state and federal laws, while also continuing to safeguard the rights of all students and 
parents/guardians," Olathe's press release said. 

Topeka Public Schools also provided CP with a press release, stating that it "has always complied with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and honored parents' right to access education records and information regarding their student. The district does not
withhold or hide any student educational records from parents." 

The school district added that it's concerned about how the matter has been communicated publicly before "a full and collaborative resolution process" has been carried out. 

The Shawnee Mission School District did not respond to CP's request for comment. 

The Education Department launched its investigation into the school districts in August 2025 after receiving a letter from Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach regarding potential Title IX and FERPA violations, as well as complaints from the Defense of Freedom Institute. 

Last year, President Donald Trump signed the "Keeping Men Out of Women's Sports" executive order, which directs federal agencies to interpret Title IX rules prohibiting sex discrimination in education as prohibiting men who identify as women from participating in female athletic competitions.

Advocates for women’s sports applauded the move, noting that allowing males to compete in women's sports is unfair and dangerous to female athletes due to men’s strength and other biological advantages.

School district policies requiring teachers and staff to withhold information from parents about whether or not their children are identifying as the opposite sex have been at the center of several legal battles in recent years. Opponents of these policies argue that they infringe on parents’ right to exercise their religion and raise their children as they see fit.