The United States Department of Education has terminated contracts with five school districts and one college that were meant to protect transgender students, the department said Monday.The measure removes federal requirements that directed schools to take steps such as training staff to respect students’ preferred names and pronouns and allowing bathroom access based on gender identity.Affected institutions include Delaware Valley School District in Pennsylvania, Sacramento City Unified School District in California, Cape Henlopen School District in Delaware, Fife School District in Washington, La Mesa-Spring Valley School District in California, and Taft College in California.
Changes in Title IX Interpretation
Under previous administrations, including former presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 was interpreted to prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.The latest action reverses this interpretation. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs that receive federal funding.
District responses vary.
One of the districts, the Delaware Valley School District, received notice of the change in February and has since voted to roll back anti-discrimination protections for transgender students. The decision came after the Trump administration ordered the cancellation of an earlier settlement.In contrast, the Sacramento City Unified School District said it is “committed to supporting our LGBTQ+ students and staff.” A.P Reports
Government’s position
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Ritchie said the decision reflects the administration’s position on gender identity policies in schools.“Today, the Trump administration is removing unnecessary and illegal burdens that previous administrations imposed on schools in continued pursuit of a radical transgender agenda,” Ritchie said in a statement, as quoted by A.P
A rare but unprecedented step
The termination of such civil rights agreements is unusual, but not unprecedented. The department previously terminated agreements related to the removal of books in Georgia and disciplinary practices affecting Native American students in South Dakota.Advocacy groups criticized the decision. Shivali Patel of the National Women’s Law Center said the move undermines the protections of vulnerable students.“This is part of the Trump administration’s attack on education and on those who are most vulnerable to discrimination and harassment, including trans students,” Patel said. A.P “They have made their intentions very clear in wanting to eliminate protections for trans people.”
Background of previous complaints
Many of the revoked contracts are related to complaints filed by students.At Taft College, a lawsuit was settled in 2023 after a student alleged discrimination, including faculty’s refusal to use preferred pronouns. The agreement required revisions to staff training and policy under Title IX.Similarly, the Sacramento City Unified School District reached a resolution in 2024 after a teacher refused to use a student’s preferred pronouns and did not assign the student to a boys’ group. Staff training on civil rights and grievance procedures is mandated under the agreement.
Broader policy initiatives
The Trump administration has also taken broader steps toward transgender rights. These include legal action against states that allow transgender students to participate in school sports consistent with their gender identity and efforts to limit access to gender-affirming medical care for minors.According to the AP, the administration has also restricted the way gender markers are entered on passports.The latest decision marks a change in federal policy on how civil rights protections are applied to transgender students in educational institutions.
