In response to a complaint filed by conservative organization America First Legal, the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) said it will open an investigation into whether Northern Virginia school districts are violating Title IX in their policies regarding transgender students.
The letter from OCR, shared by America First Legal, was in response to a complaint filed by the organization targeting Northern Virginia school divisions’ transgender student policies.
According to the letter:
The complaint alleges that the Divisions’ anti-discrimination policies pertaining to transgender students “provide greater rights to students whose ‘gender identity’ does not match their biological sex than it does to students whose ‘gender identity’ matches their biological sex.” Specifically, the complaint alleges that the Divisions’ policies related to the use of intimate, sex segregated facilities, including restrooms and locker rooms, violate Title IX.
The announcement comes amid a series of anti-transgender measures pursued by the Trump administration, including removing references to transgender rights from Stonewall National Monument’s web page and ending federal support for gender transition care for youths.
The letter to America First Legal said that the OCR will investigate Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Prince William County Public Schools.
The OCR letter says it had opened the complaint for investigation and will determine whether the school policies regarding transgender students violate Title IX.
According to the letter:
Please note that opening an investigation does not mean that OCR has made a final determination with regard to the merits. During the investigation, OCR is neutral; OCR will collect and analyze the evidence it needs in order to make a decision about the complaint. OCR will ensure that its investigation is legally sufficient in accordance with OCR’s CPM. Additional information is available at Complaint Processing Procedures. Please note that you may have the right to file a private suit in federal court whether or not OCR finds a violation.
In a statement to ALXnow, ACPS said:
Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) has received a February 12, 2025, letter from the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) indicating that OCR is opening a complaint for investigation against ACPS on the basis that School Board Policy JB, which prohibits unlawful discrimination within ACPS, violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. OCR has advised ACPS that they will contact ACPS within a week of the date of the letter to arrange for the next steps in the investigation with requests for data and access to personnel. ACPS will respond to this investigation in accordance with applicable law.
The investigation elicited backlash from some Alexandria leaders, including City Council member Kirk McPike who vowed that the city would stand with trans students and their families.
This is a horrifying and baseless attack on the safety and dignity of trans students in ACPS.
To those students and their families, please know that your City stands with you in the face of this spurious and harmful “investigation”. https://t.co/5ImfGfMWyL
— R. Kirk McPike (@KirkMcPike) February 14, 2025
