Alexandria City Public Schools

The U.S. Department of Education escalated its conflict with Alexandria City Public Schools on Tuesday, placing the district on “high-risk” status and moving all federal funding to a reimbursement-only system after ACPS rejected federal demands to change transgender student policies, according to a department press release.

The action affects over $50 million in federal funding flowing to Alexandria and four other Northern Virginia school districts, requiring the schools to pay expenses upfront and then request reimbursement from the federal government, the department said.

Alexandria City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt sent a message to the school community Tuesday reassuring families that federal immigration agents have not visited any school campuses, following concerns about recent enforcement activity in the city.

“We want to clarify that while ICE agents currently may be active in the City of Alexandria, ICE agents have thus far not visited any ACPS campuses during this school year,” Kay-Wyatt wrote in the message shared with students, staff and families.

UPDATE: Alexandria City Public Schools has rejected federal demands to change transgender policies, keeping current inclusive policies in place.

Alexandria City Public Schools faces a critical deadline today to respond to federal demands that it change policies allowing transgender students to use facilities matching their gender identity, or risk losing federal funding and potential legal action.