DOJ Sues Kansas School District Over Transgender Policy
7 hours ago
The Justice Department has filed a federal lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools over its policies involving transgender students and parental access to information.
The Trump administration alleges the district violated federal law by maintaining policies that could allow schools to withhold information about a student’s gender transition from parents.
The district uses students’ preferred names and pronouns and says requests from students who do not want their parents involved are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The Education Department began investigating the district and three other Kansas school systems following a complaint alleging their policies prevented disclosure of a student’s transgender status without the student’s consent.
In April, the department determined the districts were violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. The Kansas City district disputes that it is out of compliance with federal law and said it is disappointed by the Justice Department’s decision to sue.
The lawsuit is the Trump administration’s first using FERPA to assert a parent’s right to know about a child’s gender transition at school. The Justice Department is seeking to require the district to change its policies and provide parents greater access to student records.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said “parental rights are paramount” in public schools, while advocates for LGBTQ+ students argue that disclosing a student’s gender identity without consent can put some children at risk.
The Trump administration alleges the district violated federal law by maintaining policies that could allow schools to withhold information about a student’s gender transition from parents.
The district uses students’ preferred names and pronouns and says requests from students who do not want their parents involved are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
The Education Department began investigating the district and three other Kansas school systems following a complaint alleging their policies prevented disclosure of a student’s transgender status without the student’s consent.
In April, the department determined the districts were violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. The Kansas City district disputes that it is out of compliance with federal law and said it is disappointed by the Justice Department’s decision to sue.
The lawsuit is the Trump administration’s first using FERPA to assert a parent’s right to know about a child’s gender transition at school. The Justice Department is seeking to require the district to change its policies and provide parents greater access to student records.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said “parental rights are paramount” in public schools, while advocates for LGBTQ+ students argue that disclosing a student’s gender identity without consent can put some children at risk.
