OLYMPIA, WA – The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has opened investigations into four Washington school districts over alleged violations of Title IX related to student participation in sports.
According to the Department of Education, the investigations are part of a broader action announced Tuesday involving 18 educational entities in 10 states. The complaints allege that the schools maintain policies or practices that discriminate on the basis of sex by allowing students to participate in athletic programs based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
The Washington entities under investigation are Cheney Public Schools, Sultan School District No. 311, Tacoma Public Schools and Vancouver Public Schools.
Federal officials said the complaints assert that such policies jeopardize the safety of women and girls and deny them equal opportunities in educational programs and activities.
“In the same week that the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the future of Title IX, OCR is aggressively pursuing allegations of discrimination against women and girls,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey in a statement. “Violations of women’s rights, dignity, and fairness are unacceptable.”
Richey said the investigations are intended to uphold women’s right to equal access in education programs, a principle established with the passage of Title IX more than 50 years ago.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The Office for Civil Rights is responsible for enforcing the law and investigating complaints.
In addition to the Washington school districts, the Department of Education said the investigations include K-12 districts, colleges and state education agencies in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania and Vermont.
The Department of Education did not provide details on the specific complaints filed against the Washington districts or a timeline for the investigations.
