Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get important information about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox.
Federal officers launched an investigation Wednesday into New York City’s Education Department, concentrating on a coverage that enables transgender college students to play on sports groups consistent with their gender identification.
The U.S. Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights contends that the town’s guidelines violate Title IX, which prohibits intercourse discrimination at academic entities that obtain federal funding.
The Trump administration launched investigations into 18 academic establishments on Wednesday that every one have related policies on trangender college students’ participation in sports, together with 14 faculty districts, three faculties, and Hawaii’s state schooling division.
“Time and again, the Trump Administration has made its position clear: violations of women’s rights, dignity, and fairness are unacceptable,” Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary for civil rights, wrote in a press release.
Federal officers didn’t reply to a query about whether or not their investigation was motivated by any particular examples of how New York City’s coverage is being utilized. A spokesperson stated the investigation is in response to metropolis policies that enable transgender ladies to play on ladies’ sports groups. They are additionally investigating transgender college students’ entry to different services.
The metropolis’s Education Department didn’t instantly return a request for remark.
This will not be the primary time the Trump administration has invoked its contested interpretation of federal civil rights legal guidelines to focus on the nation’s largest faculty system.
Last 12 months, federal officers announced plans to withhold tens of millions in grant funding for a number of New York City magnet faculty applications due to metropolis policies permitting transgender college students to play on sports groups and use loos in accordance with their gender identification. Former Mayor Eric Adams indicated he was open to changing the policies, although he had little energy to take action and the town finally sued to block the cuts. That case has not been resolved.
The Trump administration introduced the investigations the identical week that the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in two lawsuits searching for to overturn state-level bans on transgender athletes collaborating in ladies’ sports. The courtroom’s conservative majority is predicted to uphold these bans — however to not rule on whether or not permitting such participation violates Title IX.
National editor Erica Meltzer contributed.
Alex Zimmerman is a reporter for Chalkbeat New York, protecting NYC public schools. Contact Alex at [email protected].