DOE Launches Title IX Investigation Into Two Maine School Districts for Allowing Males in Girls’ Sports

The U.S. Department of Education’s (DOE) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) launched an investigation Wednesday targeting 18 educational institutions, including two Maine school districts, for potential Title IX antidiscrimination law violations for allowing males to participate in female sports.

[RELATED: Defiance Over Duty: Maine Education Chief Puts Ideology Above Education in Title IX Standoff…]

“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 by entities which reportedly allow males to compete in women’s sports. Time and again, the Trump Administration has made its position clear: violations of women’s rights, dignity, and fairness are unacceptable,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey.

“We will leave no stone unturned in these investigations to uphold women’s right to equal access in education programs—a fight that started over half a century ago and is far from finished,” she added.

The investigation targets the RSU 19 school district, serving Corinna, Dixmont, Etna, Hartland, Newport, Palmyra, Plymouth, and St. Albans, along with RSU 57, serving Shapleigh, Lyman, Alfred, Waterboro, Newfield, and Limerick.

The districts are allegedly in violation of Title IX law as interpreted by the current administration under the executive order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” The order demands that schools designate sports and private spaces, like locker rooms and restrooms, by biological sex rather than self-selected gender identity.

While some Maine school districts have taken action to follow federal law, even in the face of a lawsuit from the state, many have not and continue to allow transgender-identifying males to compete in girls’ sports.

RSU 19 Superintendent Mike Hammer issued a response to the investigation on Facebook.

He said that the OCR informed them that they violated the law by reportedly allowing a male to join the girls’ cheerleading team and use a girls’ restroom at the Nokomis Regional Middle School.

“Cheering is a co-ed activity [and no student is cut out from the squad] [sic] so it is hard to understand how participation by any student, regardless of their gender or gender identity would discriminate against any other student,” he said.

“We intend to cooperate with the OCR in this investigation and are confident that when it is completed, it will be determined that our District has not violated any laws,” he added.

The Maine Wire reached out to RSU 57, which has seemingly not released a public statement, but it did not immediately respond.

Update: After the publication of this article, RSU 57 Superintendent Stephen Marquis responded, claiming that the school complies with state and federal antidiscrimination laws and will cooperate with the investigation.

“In response to your inquiry, RSU 57 received notification yesterday afternoon from the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), that a complaint has been filed alleging discrimination. OCR has indicated it is opening an investigation. RSU 57 complies with all state and federal laws related to discrimination and harassment, and provides a safe and inclusive learning environment for all of its students. RSU 57 will provide OCR with the information that it has requested and looks forward to resolving this matter,” said Marquis.

It is unclear how RSU 57 can comply with both state and federal law, since they are currently in direct opposition on this issue.

Here is the full list of institutions coming under investigation.

• Jurupa School District (CA)
• Placentia-Yorba School District (CA)
• Santa Monica College (CA)
• Santa Rosa Junior College (CA)
• Waterbury Public Schools (CT)
• Hawaii State Department of Education (HI)
• Regional School Unit 19 (ME)
• Regional School Unit 57 (ME)
• Foxborough Public Schools (MA)
• University of Nevada – Reno (NV)
• Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District (NY)
• New York City Department of Education (NY)
• Great Valley School District (PA)
• Champlain Valley School District (VT)
• Cheney Public Schools (WA)
• Sultan School District No. 311 (WA)
• Tacoma Public Schools (WA)
• Vancouver Public Schools (WA)