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Business Journals
2 days ago
- General
- Business Journals
Discover St. Mary's Academy, Oregon's only all-girls Catholic high school
St. Mary's Academy has provided young women with a challenging college-preparatory education in a vibrant learning environment for nearly 166 years. Guided by the mission of the school's foundresses, the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, St. Mary's is both the oldest continuously operating school and the only all-girls school in Oregon. Our young women grow into confident leaders ready to shape our ever-changing world. We honor tradition while embracing the future in a dynamic environment where every student is known and inspired. At SMA, confident women leaders are not the exception to the rule – they are everyone you meet. Students are leaders, athletes, artists, scientists, and more. SMA offers a full slate of AP courses, honors courses, Portland State Challenge college credit courses, and many electives, as well as best-in-class co-curriculars, and both OSAA and non-OSAA-sanctioned athletics. Explore our campus, connect with our faculty, and hear from students directly at our Open House on Sunday, November 2nd.
Fox News
25-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Trump admin cracks down on Oregon and Virginia for defying Title IX and women's sports executive order
The U.S. Department of Education ramped up its campaign against schools defying Title IX and President Donald Trump's executive order on Friday. Secretary Linda McMahon announced actions against the states of Oregon and Virginia for their policies on gender ideology. In Oregon, McMahon is launching an investigation against the state's Department of Education (ODE) after a high school sports season that featured multiple incidents involving trans athletes in girls' sports that garnered public attention, and two lawsuits over the matter. "If Oregon is permitting males to compete in women's sports, it is allowing these males to steal the accolades and opportunities that female competitors have rightfully earned through hard work and grit, while callously disregarding women's and girls' safety, dignity, and privacy. Title IX does not permit that shameful arrangement, and we will not tolerate it," said Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for the DOE's office of civil rights (OCR). On Thursday, Oregon girls' track athletes Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard filed a lawsuit against the Oregon School Athletics Association (OSAA) after an incident at the state's track and field championships on the last day of May. Anderson and Eckard alleged that the OSAA not only excluded them from official photos, but also withheld their medals. The suit argues that the girls' First Amendment rights were infringed upon by the officials. Earlier in July, two other female students, Maddie Eischen and Sophia Carpenter, filed a lawsuit against the ODE and OSAA for its policies that allow males to compete in girls' sports after an incident where they withdrew themselves from a track meet in April, because a male was set to compete against them. Both Carpenter and Eischen previously told Fox News Digital the experience was "traumatic." "My experience at the Chehalem track meet and scratching myself from the meet was traumatic, something I never imagined ever having to do," Eischen said. Carpenter added, "It was emotionally traumatic trying to know what I should do and how I should respond to competing with [the trans athlete]." The U.S. DOE investigation directly cites the lawsuits and the firm representing the athletes, the America First Policy Institute. Fox News Digital has reached out to the ODE for a response. Meanwhile, Friday also saw the DOE OCR announce an update on its investigation against five school districts in Virginia for "allegations of discrimination on the basis of sex." The OCR concluded its investigation and determined that the five school districts had violated Title IX. The investigation was based on complaints alleging that the Divisions have similar anti-discrimination policies pertaining to "transgender-identifying" students, which violate the sex-based protections of Title IX. "Although this type of behavior was tolerated by the previous Administration, it's time for Northern Virginia's experiment with radical gender ideology and unlawful discrimination to come to an end. OCR's investigation definitively shows that these five Virginia school districts have been trampling on the rights of students in the service of an extreme political ideology," Trainor said. "The Trump Administration will not sacrifice the safety, dignity, and innocence of America's young women and girls at the altar of an anti-scientific illiberalism." The five school districts now have 10 days to come to a voluntary agreement with the Trump administration or risk a referral to the U.S. Department of Justice. The DOJ has already launched lawsuits against officials in Maine and California for those states' policies that allow trans athletes in girls' and women's sports.
Fox News
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Oregon girls who went viral for refusing to stand on podium with trans athlete file lawsuit
Oregon is facing its second lawsuit in a month over the issue of biologically male trans athletes competing in girls' high school sports. Two of the state's girls' track and field stars, Alexa Anderson and Reese Eckard, filed a lawsuit against the Oregon School Athletics Association (OSAA) after an incident on May 31 when they refused to stand on a medal podium with a transgender competitor at a state title meet. Footage of the stunt went viral, as Anderson later told Fox News that officials instructed them to step away from the podium and get out of the shots of photos. Their lawsuit alleges that the OSAA not only excluded them from official photos, but also withheld their medals. The suit argues that the girls' First Amendment rights were infringed upon by the officials. "I recently competed against a biological male at my state track and field meet, another girl and I decided to step down from the podium in protest to the unfair competition environment," Anderson told Fox News Digital. "I am fighting to keep women's sports XX and prevent biological males in women's sports from becoming normalized. By doing this, I hope that all future generations of female athletes will have a safe and fair opportunity to excel within their sports." Fox News Digital reached out to the OSAA for a response. The girls are being represented by the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). "These young women earned their place on the podium – and the right to express themselves," said Jessica Hart Steinmann, executive general counsel at AFPI. "Instead of respecting their viewpoint that girls' sports should be for girls only, Oregon officials sidelined them. The First Amendment protects the right to dissent – school officials don't get to reprimand students who refuse to agree with their beliefs." AFPI is also representing fellow Oregon girls' track and field athletes Maddie Eischen and Sophia Carpenter in a separate lawsuit against the Oregon Department of Education for its policies that allow biological males to compete in girls' sports. Carpenter and Eischen cited their experience in withdrawing from a meet that featured a trans competitor on April 18. "For [Carpenter] the psychological and emotional weight of that moment became overwhelming—she felt helpless, demoralized, and betrayed by the institutions and adults charged with protecting her equal opportunity for fair play. Ultimately, she realized that she was unable to participate in the high jump that day and withdrew from the event," that lawsuit alleges. Both Carpenter and Eischen previously told Fox News Digital the experience was "traumatic." "My experience at the Chehalem track meet and scratching myself from the meet was traumatic, something I never imagined ever having to do," Eischen said. Carpenter added, "It was emotionally traumatic trying to know what I should do and how I should respond to competing with [the trans athlete]." Carpenter said she found herself so overwhelmed with emotion from the experience, that she cried on the ride home after the meet. Now, despite being faced with "fear" of potential retaliation for filing a lawsuit, the two girls are officially in it and charging ahead with a legal battle that could garner plenty of national attention.
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.
