Trump's week in review: DC takeover to reduce crime, 'Pursuing Peace' summit with Putin
5. Department of Education investigating four Kansas school districts for letting trans-identified males enter girls' spaces, compete in girls' sports
In a statement on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it was investigating four Kansas school districts following a complaint filed by the Defense of Freedom Institute alleging that Topeka Public Schools, Shawnee Public Schools, Olathe Public Schools and Kansas City Public Schools allow trans-identified male students to compete in girls' sports.
The complaint adds that these school districts are also allowing boys to enter girls' restrooms and locker rooms and have policies in place allowing school employees to withhold information from parents about their child's desire to identify as the opposite sex at school.
The Trump administration identified the allegations, if true, as potential violations of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
“The Kansas districts’ alleged behavior of allowing gender ideology to run amok in their schools is an affront not only to the law, but to the sound judgment we expect from our educational leaders,” said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
“School personnel should not confuse and unsettle young girls by forcing them to share sex-separated sports and intimate facilities with boys; nor should school personnel abuse their position of authority by hiding sensitive information pertaining to a child’s health and wellbeing from that child’s parents,” she added. “My offices will vigorously investigate these matters to ensure these practices come to an end.”
In addition to possibly violating federal law, the alleged practice of the school districts allowing trans-identified male athletes to compete in women’s sports runs afoul of state law. Kansas is one of 29 states that require athletes to compete on sports teams based on their sex, not their chosen gender identity.
Ryan Foley is a reporter for The Christian Post. He can be reached at: ryan.foley@christianpost.com
