The new Trump administration’s Dept. of Education has announced plans to investigate Arlington Public Schools and other Northern Virginia school districts for violating Title IX.
America First Legal, a conservative organization, has asked the Department of Education to investigate Arlington, Fairfax, Prince William County, Loudoun, and Alexandria school districts. According to The Hill,“[The districts are being investigated due to] allowing transgender students to use their chosen name and pronouns at school and access restrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.” All of these districts are generally blue and have historically opposed anti-transgender policies.
The Washington Post states that America First Legal is calling for investigations because these school districts give “greater rights to students whose gender identity does not match their biological sex than it does to students whose gender identity matches their biological sex.” In addition to that, America First Legal has alleged that policies of some Northern VA school districts conflict with President Trump’s order to “end racial indoctrination in K-12 schools.”
These investigations have come along with a flurry of other investigations and executive actions that have taken place in President Trump’s first months in office. In fact, more than 50 universities are being investigated by the Trump administration in a campaign to end DEI.
Understandably, these investigations have caused unease for APS’s transgender community and their allies. Officials from Fairfax and Arlington have spoken on these investigations. “We firmly stand behind our nondiscrimination policies and pride ourselves on providing safe, welcoming spaces for all students. We follow all federal laws with respect to Title IX,” Arlington Public Schools spokesman Frank Bellavia said. Alexandria, Loudoun, and Prince William County have stated that they will cooperate with the investigations.
These investigations of APS policy are controversial, with some community members opposing them and some supporting them. However, during these investigations, it is especially important that H-B remains a safe, inclusive space for transgender students and their allies.
