The U.S. Department of Education is taking decisive action as it launches an investigation into the Maine Department of Education. Allegations have surfaced suggesting that Maine schools may be keeping parents in the dark about student gender transitions, possibly violating federal law. This scrutiny will focus on potential breaches of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
According to a press release from the U.S. Department of Education:
This investigation comes amid reports that dozens of Maine school districts are violating or misusing FERPA by maintaining policies that infringe on parents’ rights. The districts’ policies allegedly allow for schools to create “gender plans” supporting a student’s “transgender identity” and then claim those plans are not education records under FERPA and therefore not available to parents.
This probe aligns with Secretary of Education Linda McMahon’s commitment to bolster FERPA enforcement. Additionally, it accompanies an investigation into the California Department of Education, aiming to address complaints accumulated under the prior administration.
A U.S. Department of Education spokesperson emphasized the importance of protecting parents’ rights to access their children’s educational records, stating, “We take seriously any allegations that schools or state agencies may be denying parents their lawful rights to access their children’s education records. This investigation will determine if Maine’s policies and practices align with federal law.”
“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. “A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet with several young people who shared their detransitioning stories. It is deeply concerning to hear that teachers and school counselors in Maine are reportedly encouraging and helping students to undergo so-called ‘gender transitions’ while keeping parents in the dark. The Trump Administration will enforce all federal laws to safeguard students and families.”
Nicole Neily, President of Parents Defending Education, expressed strong support for the investigation, noting the previous administration’s battle to protect children from irreversible changes facilitated by school personnel. “We are proud to stand with President Trump and Secretary McMahon to hold school districts accountable and ensure no child is socially transitioned behind parents’ backs by teachers or administrators,” she said.
As of now, Maine’s Department of Education has not released a statement on these allegations.
In a related matter, the Department of Education initiated an investigation last month concerning Maine’s compliance with Title IX after Governor Janet Mills’s confrontation with President Trump over gender in athletics. The probe addresses claims about male athletes competing in female categories and the denial of female-exclusive facilities, potentially violating federal anti-discrimination laws.
“Today the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent a letter to the Maine Department of Education Commissioner Pender Makin announcing that OCR is initiating a directed investigation of the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) amid allegations that it continues to allow male athletes to compete in girls’ interscholastic athletics and that it has denied female athletes female-only intimate facilities, thereby violating federal antidiscrimination law,” the DOE said in a press release.
The OCR is also probing Maine School Administrative District #51 after reports that Greely High School permits male students to compete in girls’ sports categories.
Maine would have you believe that it has no choice in how it treats women and girls in athletics – that is, that it must follow its state laws and allow male athletes to compete against women and girls. Let me be clear: If Maine wants to continue to receive federal funds from the Education Department, it has to follow Title IX. If it wants to forgo federal funds and continue to trample the rights of its young female athletes, that, too, is its choice. OCR will do everything in its power to ensure taxpayers are not funding blatant civil rights violators,” said Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights.
As of March 19, the Department of Education has found Maine’s Department of Education in violation of Title IX. The situation continues to unfold as federal authorities strive to ensure compliance with laws protecting students and parents.
