Education Dept launches 18 Title IX probes after SCOTUS hears arguments in efforts to protect women’s sports

[aggregator] downloaded image for imported item #24151

This post was originally published on this site.

Supreme Court hears landmark women’s sports cases

Independent Women’s Law Center Director May Mailman joins ‘America’s Newsroom,’ reacting to the ongoing hearings to determine if transgender athletes should be allowed to compete in women’s sports.

The U.S.Department ofEducation’s Office for Civil Rights(OCR) announced Wednesday it had launched 18 Title IX investigations into several school districts across the country, a day after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the fight to protect women’s and girls sports.

School districts withhigh-profile transgender athlete controversieswere among those under investigation.The targeted districts are in California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington.

“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,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a news release.

Read More → House GOP leader blasts trans athletes in girls’sports as ‘biggest form of bullying’

“Time and again, the Trump administration has made its position clear: Violations of women’s rights, dignity, and fairness are unacceptable.

A protester backing the "Save Women

A protester holds a sign outside the Supreme Court during arguments over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams Tuesday, Jan.13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

“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.”

The schools under investigation included the following:

The districts are accused of maintaining “policies or practices that discriminate on the basis of sex by permitting students to participate in sports based on their ‘gender identity,’ not biological sex,” the Education Department said.“These policies jeopardize both the safety and the equal opportunities of women in educational programs and activities.”

Read More → Cuba’s shadow in Venezuela: Havana’s intelligence and military ties exposed after Maduro raid

Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District responded to a request for comment.

“The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District has been notified of a review by the U.S.Department of Education,” a school official said.“Our priority has always been to provide safe, respectful and inclusive learning environments for all students while meeting our obligations under state and federal law.The district’s policies were adopted in good faith and are aligned with applicable law, and we will fully cooperate with all requests related to this matter.”

�We are aware of the investigation that the Department of Education initiated today.At this time, we cannot comment on the substance of the investigation, but we intend to cooperate with the investigator throughout this process.”

�We did receive notice earlier today alerting us that the Office for Civil Rights is initiating an investigation.We are reviewing the allegations, but are unable to provide further comment while the investigation is pending.”

INSIDE THE SCOTUS HEARING BOUND TO BE A TURNING POINT IN THE CULTURE WAR OVER TRANS ATHLETES IN WOMEN’S SPORTS

Read More → 49ers’George Kittle carted off field with Achilles injury during Wild Card Round vs Eagles

Linda McMahon talks to a crowd

Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks to the crowd as protesters gather outside the Supreme Court as it hears arguments over state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school athletic teams Tuesday, Jan.13, 2026, in Washington(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

The OCR’s announcement came as the Supreme Court heard arguments in two landmark cases to protect women’s and girls sports.

Read More → Tom Brady talks Aaron Rodgers’possible retirement, improving in broadcast booth

The issue at hand is whetherlaws in Idahoand West Virginia that prohibit transgender athletes who identify as women from playing on teams that match their gender identity, discriminate based on sex.

In the case of Little v.Hecox, a biological man who sought to compete on the women’s track and cross-country teams at Boise State University contended that Idaho’s law, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, violated the equal protection clause by excluding transgender women.

West Virginia v.B.P.J.centers on a 15-year-old transgender athlete who identifies as a girl and who argued the state’s ban violated both the Constitution and Title IX’s ban on sex discrimination in federally funded education programs.

onelink.me/xLDS?pid=AppArticleLink&af_web_dp=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.

Lawyers for the states defending the bans maintain that separating sports based on biological sex preserves fairness and safety for female athletes and is consistent with Title IX’s definition of sex.

� Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.

�s

Must Read

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top