Virginia schools cited by feds for gender identity policies

The U.S. Department of Education announced this week that five Northern Virginia school divisions are in violation of Title IX due to policies that allow students to access bathrooms and locker rooms based on gender identity.

The department’s Office for Civil Rights concluded that the divisions’ policies unlawfully permit students of the opposite sex to access sex-separated facilities and participate in sex-separated sports based on gender identity rather than biological sex.

The findings apply to Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Prince William County Public Schools.

In a resolution agreement dated July 25, the department gave each school division 10 days to rescind the policies or face enforcement, including possible referral to the U.S. Department of Justice and the withholding of federal funds.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon confirmed the findings in an interview with 7News, stating that the policies violate the sex-based protections of Title IX and must be revised.

The department is also requiring the districts to adopt biological definitions of “male” and “female” in all future policy language and guidance.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced the ruling and said the federal government’s findings align with concerns raised by parents and state officials over the last year.

“These school divisions have been violating federal law, deliberately neglecting their responsibility to protect students’ safety, privacy and dignity,” Youngkin said in a statement.

Attorney General Miyares said the ruling supports Virginia’s legal efforts to challenge prior federal guidance. “Those rules would have held federal education dollars hostage and forced Virginia’s public schools to submit to a radical and ideologically driven agenda,” Miyares said.

The investigation referenced specific incidents, including a sex offender in a girls’ locker room, a student filming others, suspensions over pronoun use and a lack of parental notification, as violations of Title IX’s sex-based standards.

Prince William County Public Schools said it recently received the proposed resolution from the U.S. Department of Education and is reviewing it. In a statement, the division said it remains committed to a “safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment” and will work with federal officials to ensure compliance with Title IX.

Prince William County Public Schools said it recently received the proposed resolution from the U.S. Department of Education and is reviewing it. In a statement, the division said it remains committed to a “safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment” and will work with federal officials to ensure compliance with Title IX.

In emails to The Center Square, Fairfax, Alexandria and Loudoun County public schools each said they are reviewing the findings and remain committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment in accordance with federal and state laws.