Latest news with #OSAA
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration investigating Portland schools over transgender athlete
The Education Department is investigating Oregon's largest school district and the state's governing body for high school sports for allowing a transgender student to participate in girls' track and field competitions, the department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Tuesday. In letters sent this week to Kimberlee Armstrong, superintendent of Portland Public Schools, and the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), the department alleged both entities violated Title IX, the federal law against sex discrimination, by permitting one transgender teenager to compete against and alongside non-transgender girls and access the girls' locker room. OCR said it opened the inquiries in response to a complaint filed with the department and 'credible public reporting' that Leodis V. McDaniel High School in Portland allowed a trans student to race on its girls' track team the last two seasons. The student, according to OCR, easily won the girls' 200-meter and 400-meter dashes at this and last year's Portland Interscholastic League Championship. The department's investigations into the school district and sports association are the latest in a string of probes the department has opened since President Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. 'We are putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice: If you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,' Trump said at the order's signing ceremony in February. In an emailed statement, Armstrong, the school district's superintendent, said she is aware of the OCR complaint and the district 'is fully cooperating with the investigation.' 'I stand firm in our legal responsibilities, and I deeply value every student's right to be treated with dignity, safety, and respect,' Armstrong said, adding that the district 'is in full compliance with Oregon state law, which may differ from federal guidance.' 'We are actively working with our legal and state partners to navigate this complex legal landscape,' she continued. 'While I am limited in what I can share at this time due to the sensitive nature of the matter and our duty to protect student privacy, I want to be clear: my commitment — and our district's commitment — to doing what's right for all students, especially those most vulnerable, remains unwavering.' Oregon state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, meaning schools cannot categorically exclude transgender students from participating in interscholastic activities, according to the state's Education Department. 'Questions about individual sports eligibility or protocols should be directed to the applicable governing association,' reads a portion of the department's guidance for supporting gender-expansive students. The OSAA, representing nearly 200 Oregon cities and communities, has since 2019 allowed transgender student-athletes to compete on teams that match their gender identity. The organization developed the policy with education officials. An OSAA spokesperson said it received notification of the U.S. Department of Education investigation Tuesday, and it is consulting with its legal counsel to respond. 'We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,' said Craig Trainor, the Education Department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights. 'President Trump and Secretary [Linda McMahon] have been steadfast in their commitment to protect the rights of women and girls,' Trainor said in a statement. 'OCR will use every lawful means to ensure that no female athlete is denied equal athletic opportunities or robbed of her rightful accolades.' The department's investigations into the Oregon school district and the sports body come roughly a week after President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, a longtime target of conservatives. The order, which claims the department 'has plainly failed' students and educators, recognizes it will take an act of Congress to fully shutter the agency. The White House said earlier this month that the department will retain 'critical functions' mandated by Congress, like funding programs for students with disabilities. An Education Department spokesperson did not answer questions about whether there are contingency plans in place for open Title IX investigations in the case of the department's dissolution. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began opening Title IX investigations into schools and states that allow transgender athletes to compete on girls' and women's school sports teams, part of a new initiative within the department's Office on Women's Health. Last week, federal investigators found Maine had violated Title IX by permitting trans student-athletes to compete on teams that best align with their gender identity rather than their birth sex. The University of Maine System said Friday that the administration found its seven universities to be in compliance with state and federal laws, as well as a new NCAA policy barring transgender athletes from women's college sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker previously testified before Congress that fewer than 10 transgender athletes are competing at the association's member schools nationwide. Updated at 2:47 p.m. EDT Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
26-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Trump administration investigating Portland schools over transgender athlete
The Education Department is investigating Oregon's largest school district and the state's governing body for high school sports for allowing a transgender student to participate in girls' track and field competitions, the department's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced Tuesday. In letters sent this week to Kimberlee Armstrong, superintendent of Portland Public Schools, and the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA), the department alleged both entities violated Title IX, the federal law against sex discrimination, by permitting one transgender teenager to compete against and alongside non-transgender girls and access the girls' locker room. OCR said it opened the inquiries in response to a complaint filed with the department and 'credible public reporting' that Leodis V. McDaniel High School in Portland allowed a trans student to race on its girls' track team the last two seasons. The student, according to OCR, easily won the girls' 200-meter and 400-meter dashes at this and last year's Portland Interscholastic League Championship. The department's investigations into the school district and sports association are the latest in a string of probes the department has opened since President Trump signed an executive order to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. 'We are putting every school receiving taxpayer dollars on notice: If you let men take over women's sports teams or invade your locker rooms, you will be investigated for violations of Title IX and risk your federal funding,' Trump said at the order's signing ceremony in February. In an emailed statement, Armstrong, the school district's superintendent, said she is aware of the OCR complaint and the district 'is fully cooperating with the investigation.' 'I stand firm in our legal responsibilities, and I deeply value every student's right to be treated with dignity, safety, and respect,' Amstrong said, adding that the district 'is in full compliance with Oregon state law, which may differ from federal guidance.' 'We are actively working with our legal and state partners to navigate this complex legal landscape,' she continued. 'While I am limited in what I can share at this time due to the sensitive nature of the matter and our duty to protect student privacy, I want to be clear: my commitment—and our district's commitment—to doing what's right for all students, especially those most vulnerable, remains unwavering.' Oregon state law prohibits discrimination based on gender identity, meaning schools cannot categorically exclude transgender students from participating in interscholastic activities, according to the state's Education Department. 'Questions about individual sports eligibility or protocols should be directed to the applicable governing association,' reads a portion of the department's guidance for supporting gender-expansive students. The OSAA, representing nearly 200 Oregon cities and communities, has since 2019 allowed transgender student-athletes to compete on teams that match their gender identity. The organization developed the policy with education officials. An OSAA spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment on the U.S. Department of Education investigation. 'We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,' said Craig Trainor, the Education Department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights. 'President Trump and Secretary [Linda McMahon] have been steadfast in their commitment to protect the rights of women and girls,' Trainor said in a statement. 'OCR will use every lawful means to ensure that no female athlete is denied equal athletic opportunities or robbed of her rightful accolades.' The department's investigations into the Oregon school district and the sports body come roughly a week after President Trump signed an executive order to dismantle the Department of Education, a longtime target of conservatives. The order, which claims the department 'has plainly failed' students and educators, recognizes it will take an act of Congress to fully shutter the agency. The White House said earlier this month that the department will retain 'critical functions' mandated by Congress, like funding programs for students with disabilities. An Education Department spokesperson did not answer questions about whether there are contingency plans in place for open Title IX investigations in the case of the department's dissolution. Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) began opening Title IX investigations into schools and states allowing transgender athletes to compete on girls' and women's school sports teams, part of a new initiative within the department's Office on Women's Health. Last week, both the Departments of Health and Education said investigators found Maine had violated Title IX by permitting trans student-athletes to compete on teams that best align with their gender identity rather than their birth sex. The University of Maine System said Friday that the administration found its seven universities to be in compliance with state and federal laws, as well as a new National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) policy barring transgender athletes from women's college sports. NCAA President Charlie Baker previously testified before Congress that fewer than 10 transgender athletes are competing at the association's member schools nationwide.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump admin investigates Oregon's largest school district for allowing trans students to play sports
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education said in a news release Tuesday that it has opened an investigation into Portland Public Schools, Oregon's largest school district, over allowing a transgender athlete to compete on a high school girls' track-and-field team. The federal agency said it was investigating whether this violated Title IX, a 1972 law barring sex discrimination in education. The Trump administration has been using the law to push against schools that provide accommodations for transgender students. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order last month intended to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. 'We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,' Craig Trainor, the education department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in the news release. The department said it also sent a letter to the Oregon School Activities Association, or OSAA, notifying it of an investigation into its 'gender identity participation' policy. The department said its investigation into the district was based on a complaint filed with its civil rights office. The complaint said the district and OSAA allowed a high school transgender athlete to compete in the girls' track and field division over the last two seasons, according to the department's news release. Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong said the district is in full compliance with Oregon state law, 'which may differ from federal guidance,' and that it was working to 'navigate this complex legal landscape.' 'I want our community to know that I am aware of the complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, and Portland Public Schools is fully cooperating with the investigation,' Armstrong said in a statement. "While I am limited in what I can share at this time due to the sensitive nature of the matter and our duty to protect student privacy, I want to be clear: my commitment — and our district's commitment — to doing what's right for all students, especially those most vulnerable, remains unwavering.' Elsewhere, the federal agency has also opened investigations into Denver public schools after an all-gender restroom replaced a girl's restroom while leaving another exclusive to boys, as well as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Associated Press
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trump admin investigates Oregon's largest school district for allowing trans students to play sports
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. Department of Education said in a news release Tuesday that it has opened an investigation into Portland Public Schools, Oregon's largest school district, over allowing a transgender athlete to compete on a high school girls' track-and-field team. The federal agency said it was investigating whether this violated Title IX, a 1972 law barring sex discrimination in education. The Trump administration has been using the law to push against schools that provide accommodations for transgender students. President Donald Trump also signed an executive order last month intended to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports. 'We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the antidiscrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law,' Craig Trainor, the education department's acting assistant secretary for civil rights, said in the news release. The department said it also sent a letter to the Oregon School Activities Association, or OSAA, notifying it of an investigation into its 'gender identity participation' policy. The department said its investigation into the district was based on a complaint filed with its civil rights office. The complaint said the district and OSAA allowed a high school transgender athlete to compete in the girls' track and field division over the last two seasons, according to the department's news release. Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong said the district is in full compliance with Oregon state law, 'which may differ from federal guidance,' and that it was working to 'navigate this complex legal landscape.' 'I want our community to know that I am aware of the complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, and Portland Public Schools is fully cooperating with the investigation,' Armstrong said in a statement. 'While I am limited in what I can share at this time due to the sensitive nature of the matter and our duty to protect student privacy, I want to be clear: my commitment — and our district's commitment — to doing what's right for all students, especially those most vulnerable, remains unwavering.' Elsewhere, the federal agency has also opened investigations into Denver public schools after an all-gender restroom replaced a girl's restroom while leaving another exclusive to boys, as well as the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Feds investigating Oregon school, activities association for possible Title IX violations
March 25 (UPI) -- A male competing against females and using a girls locker room while girls were changing clothing spurred a Department of Education investigation of possible Title IX violations in Oregon. The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights on Tuesday notified Portland (Ore.) Public Schools Superintendent Kimberlee Armstrong that the school district is being investigated for possible Title IX violations. "We will not allow the Portland Public Schools District or any other educational entity that receives federal funds to trample on the anti-discrimination protections that women and girls are guaranteed under law," Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said Tuesday in a news release. "President [Donald] Trump and [Education] Secretary [Linda] McMahon have been steadfast in their commitment to protect the rights of women and girls," Trainor said. "OCR will use every lawful means to ensure that no female athlete is denied equal athletic opportunities or robbed of her rightful accolades." The Education Department announced the investigation after receiving at least one complaint regarding potential Title IX violations when a male athlete competed in a girls' interscholastic track and field competition used the girl's locker room while girls were changing on Wednesday. The DOE also notified officials with the Oregon School Activities Association of a Title IX investigation against the state's organization that is in charge of athletics and other activities. Male athlete dominated girls' track events The investigation arises from a male competing against females during a track competition on Wednesday and allowing that person to use the girls' locker room while girls were inside and changing. The unnamed male athlete has competed in girls' track and field events for Leodis V. McDaniel High School in Portland over the past two years. A male athlete last year won Portland Interscholastic League Championship titles in the 200- and 400-meter dashes and this year was allowed to compete in the Portland Interscholastic League girls' track and field events. The male athlete won the 200- and 400-meter dashes and beat the closest female competitor by 7 seconds while setting records in the 400-meter-dash event, according to the Education Department. The Title IX investigation also examines the OSAA's "gender identity participation" policy that runs counter to federal Title IX protections for female athletes in grade schools and colleges. The OSAA's gender identity participation policy allows athletes to compete based on gender identity instead of biological sex despite a recent federal court ruling to the contrary and President Donald Trump's executive order banning athletics participation based on gender identity. Federal judge affirms Title IX protections for females U.S. District Court of Eastern Kentucky Judge Danny Reeves in January ruled Title IX protects female athletes against biological males competing against them or using locations designated for girls and women due to gender identity. Reeves said the Biden administration erred when it included gender identity as a form of "sexual harassment" regarding Title IX protections for students and athletes. Reeves said Title IX since its inception always has determined "on the basis of sex" means the sex a person was born and not gender identity. Title IX protects women against males who identify as females competing in sporting events or using women's or girls' bathrooms, locker rooms or anything of the kind," Reeves ruled. Federal district court rulings do not have national impact, but they serve as precedence in future federal court cases unless overturned on appeal. Portland School District director of media relations Valerie Feder and OSAA director of media communications Nate Lowery did not return calls seeking comment.
