Latest news with #TheDepartmentofEducation
The Hill
28-03-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Feds investigating Maine over student gender transition claims
The Department of Education is investigating Maine over reported concerns that school districts are using privacy laws to keep information about students away from their parents, alleging the state's Department of Education is violating the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA). The federal department is taking issue with district policies that allegedly allow schools to create 'gender plans' to help transgender students but 'claim those plans are not education records under FERPA and therefore not available to parents,' it said. 'Parents and guardians have the right to access their child's education records to guide and safeguard their child's mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Any policy to the contrary is both illegal and immoral,' said Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. FERPA gives a legal right to parents to access their children's educational records. The Hill has reached out to Maine's Department of Education for comment. The investigation comes a day after the Education Department launched a similar inquiry against California over a new law that says schools cannot disclose a student's gender identity to their parents. Both investigations were started before the federal agency put out a 'Dear Colleague' letter to chief state school officers and superintendents regarding federally funded schools FERPA obligations. The letter stresses schools must provide all education records of a student to their parents, including ones involving an individual's gender identity. 'Parents are the most natural protectors of their children. Yet many states and school districts have enacted policies that imply students need protection from their parents,' said McMahon. 'These states and school districts have turned the concept of privacy on its head—prioritizing the privileges of government officials over the rights of parents and wellbeing of families. Going forward, the correct application of FERPA will be to empower all parents to protect their children from the radical ideologies that have taken over many schools,' she added. Since President Trump took office, he has repeatedly targeted transgender athletes in schools, including an executive order barring transgender girls from playing on women's sports teams. The Education Department has launched several investigations into schools over this order. It has also paused federal funding to the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Maine system over alleged violations of the executive order. Both schools said they were in compliance with the NCAA, which no longer allows transgender athletes to play on the sports team they choose. The actions against Maine come after Trump publicly clashed with the state's governor last month at the White House over the issue. 'We are the federal law. You better do it because you're not going to get federal funding,' the president told Gov. Janet Mills (D). 'See you in court,' she replied. Trump has since called for 'a full throated apology' from Mills as his administration moves against her state. 'While the State of Maine has apologized for their Governor's strong, but totally incorrect, statement about men playing in women's sports while at the White House Governor's Conference, we have not heard from the Governor herself, and she is the one that matters in such cases,' he wrote on Truth Social last weekend. 'Therefore, we need a full throated apology from the Governor herself, and a statement that she will never make such an unlawful challenge to the Federal Government again, before this case can be settled,' he continued. 'I'm sure she will be able to do that quite easily.'
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Education Dept. opens investigation into California schools' gender identity law
The Department of Education started an investigation Thursday into a new California law that bars public schools from disclosing to parents the sexual orientation of their children. If the three-month-old law were to be found in violation of federal rules and the Trump administration acted on threats to withhold funding, the state could lose up to $7.9 billion, California Department of Education officials said. The investigation is the latest move by the Trump administration to address gender identity and sexual orientation in schools and beyond. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order saying the U.S. would recognize only two sexes, male and female. At issue is California Assembly Bill 1955, which prohibits schools and their staffs from disclosing a student's sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The Department of Education contends the state law violates the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act, which gives parents the right to access their children's educational data, including reviewing records regarding sexual orientation. It also allows parents to request record corrections or amendments, and gives them some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information. 'Teachers and school counselors should not be in the business of advising minors entrusted to their care on consequential decisions about their sexual identity and mental health,' Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. 'That responsibility and privilege lies with a parent or trusted loved one.' Assemblymember Chris Ward, D-San Diego, who authored the bill, said requiring school officials to expose students' gender without their consent is "immorally invasive." 'Parents have always retained the right to have meaningful conversation with their children and play a crucial role in their development,' he said in a statement. State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond said educators are trying to protect students who do not want their sexual orientation outed, even to their parents. 'Our students must be safe in order to learn," he said in a statement. "I have heard from so many students and families whose safety has been impacted by forced outing policies. To our LGBTQ+ youth and families, I want to make sure that you hear us as loudly as we hear you.' California Teachers Association President David Goldberg reiterated Thurmond's position and said the Trump administration is threatening to withhold money from some of the state's most vulnerable students, who rely on it for food and special education services. 'We respect our justice system and follow laws in California," he said. Trump signed a separate order in February, banning transgender women and girls from competing in female sports and threatened to rescind funds from educational programs that deprive women and girls of fair athletic opportunities. On Tuesday, the Department of Education opened an investigation into the Portland Public Schools for allegedly allowing a male track athlete to compete in a March 19 girls track-and-field competition. This article was originally published on
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump using 'presidential chutzpah' to do what conservative predecessors couldn't: Page
The Department of Education is gutting their staff amid wider government cuts by the Trump administration. Republican strategist Lance Trover and USA Today Washington bureau chief Susan Page join José Díaz-Balart to discuss the shakeup.
Axios
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Northwestern among 60 colleges under federal antisemitism probe
The Department of Education announced Monday it's investigating 60 colleges and universities, including Northwestern and Illinois Wesleyan, over allegations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination. Why it matters: Northwestern is already the target of a Department of Justice task force assigned to look into allegations of antisemitism stemming from campus protests over the Israel-Gaza war and the new investigation could put the school at greater risk of funding cuts. What they're saying: "We are fully cooperating with federal investigators as we have with the House Committee on Education and the Workforce over the past year," a statement from Northwestern said. "There is no place for antisemitism or any form of identity-based discrimination or hate at Northwestern University." "We are confident in the actions we have taken to address antisemitism on our campus, including updating our Student Code of Conduct, our disciplinary procedures and making investments in public safety." "We have provided all the information that was requested in an Office of Civil Rights (OCR) investigation that began in March 2024. The University is committed to fulfilling its obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and we continue to cooperate in this matter," Illinois Wesleyan spokesperson Julia Perez told Axios in a statement. "We are committed to a campus environment that protects the safety and dignity of all students, faculty and staff, and that is free from harassment or discrimination of any kind, including discrimination against people of Jewish origin." Catch up quick: The DOE sent letters to five dozen schools saying they must fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students. The move comes after the administration revoked some $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia last week, citing "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." Some campuses on the list — including Columbia University — were epicenters of the pro-Palestinian protests that led to hundreds of arrests starting last spring. President Trump threatened earlier this month to halt funding for schools that allow "illegal protests" — saying "agitators will be imprisoned." By the numbers: The institutions vary widely in enrollment size and location, though nearly half are concentrated in the Northeast. Northwestern and Illinois Wesleyan are the only Illinois schools on the list. Nine Big Ten schools are being threatened, including Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin. Of the eight Ivy League schools, six are being investigated. Zoom in: Northwestern president Michael Schill told a congressional panel last year the private school would not divest from Israel, one of the demands of campus protesters calling for a ceasefire. Zoom out: Trump has pushed an aggressive crackdown on suspected antisemitism on university campuses — though some of the administration's recent actions and threats have been questioned as legally dubious. Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that nine (not five) Big Ten schools are under investigation by the Department of Education.
Axios
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Harvard, Yale among 60 colleges warned of fund cuts over antisemitism claims
The Department of Education announced Monday it's investigating 60 colleges and universities over allegations of antisemitic harassment and discrimination. The big picture: The warning comes after President Trump threatened last week to pull federal funding from colleges he accused of allowing " illegal protests" on campus. His administration on Friday pulled some $400 million in federal grants and contracts from Columbia University, citing the school's alleged "continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students." Columbia served as the epicenter of nationwide protests last spring over Israel's handling of the war in Gaza. Zoom in: The Education Department sent five dozen universities, including Ivy League and UC schools, warning letters Monday, saying they must fulfill their obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students. All of the universities are under investigation for alleged Title VI violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination, according to the department. What they're saying: "The Department is deeply disappointed that Jewish students studying on elite U.S. campuses continue to fear for their safety amid the relentless antisemitic eruptions that have severely disrupted campus life for more than a year. University leaders must do better," newly confirmed Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement. "U.S. colleges and universities benefit from enormous public investments funded by U.S. taxpayers. That support is a privilege and it is contingent on scrupulous adherence to federal antidiscrimination laws." Zoom out: Trump on Monday praised the arrest of a pro-Palestinian activist and Columbia University alumnus, saying it's the first of "many to come." He said, "We know there are more students at Columbia and other Universities across the Country who have engaged in pro-terrorist, anti-Semitic, anti-American activity, and the Trump Administration will not tolerate it." More from Axios: Trump promises more arrests after pro-Palestinian activist detained by ICE Trump yanks $400 million from Columbia over allegations of antisemitism
