Washington: The US Department of Education has terminated a series of agreements with multiple school districts and a college that were designed to uphold protections for transgender students under federal civil rights law.
The move effectively removes the department’s role in enforcing these settlements, which were established under previous administrations to ensure schools complied with anti-discrimination requirements. The affected institutions include school districts in Delaware, Washington, Pennsylvania and California, along with Taft College.
These agreements had required schools to adopt policies protecting transgender and LGBTQ+ students, particularly in areas such as access to facilities and participation in school activities. During the administrations of Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education, was interpreted to include protections for transgender and gay students.
However, under Donald Trump, the approach has shifted significantly. The administration has taken legal action against states like California and Minnesota over policies allowing transgender students to compete in school sports aligned with their gender identity, and has launched investigations into educational institutions over similar issues.
The decision marks the first known instance of the administration formally ending previously negotiated civil rights settlements with schools related to transgender protections. Officials indicated that the move aligns with broader efforts to restrict transgender students’ participation in girls’ and women’s sports teams, as well as access to shared facilities such as locker rooms.
Reacting to the development, a spokesperson for Sacramento City Unified School District said the district remains committed to supporting LGBTQ+ students and staff, while acknowledging uncertainty about how the decision may affect existing policies or funding.
The latest action underscores an ongoing policy divide in the United States over the scope of federal protections for transgender students, with significant implications for schools navigating compliance with evolving civil rights interpretations.
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