BREAKING: Justice Department opens Title IX investigations into three Michigan school districts

Federal officials request documents and records

UPDATE: Glenn Maleyko, superintendent of the Michigan Department of Education, said the U.S. Department of Justice investigation into three Michigan school districts is based on a mischaracterization of the state’s health education standards, arguing that they are guidelines rather than mandates. He emphasized that local school boards control curriculum decisions under Michigan law and that parents already have the right to review materials and opt their children out of sex education. Maleyko said to MLIVE, the department supports the districts under review and warned that the broad federal document requests could divert time and resources away from educating students.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice has opened compliance review investigations into three Michigan school districts to determine whether their implementation of updated state health education standards violates federal civil rights law, according to federal documents released Tuesday.

The investigations target Lansing School District, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and Detroit Public Schools Community District. Each district received nearly identical letters dated Feb. 18 from the DOJ Civil Rights Division informing administrators of the reviews.

The letters state federal officials are examining whether the districts’ policies and classroom materials comply with Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in federally funded education programs.

Click here to read the complaints from the Dept. of Justice.

Federal officials said the inquiry follows revisions adopted Nov. 13, 2025, by the Michigan State Board of Education requiring local districts to include instruction on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender diversity and gender expression in health and sex education starting as early as sixth grade.

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Because health is a required course for graduation in Michigan, students may not opt out of those lessons, the letter notes, citing state law.

Scope of investigation

According to the documents, the Justice Department said it has “serious concerns” about the introduction of such materials in public schools and is reviewing whether instruction or related policies could violate Title IX or recent federal directives.

The review will examine:

Implementation of the new Michigan standards in health or sex education

Any lessons referencing topics such as sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or related terms in any class from pre-K through 12th grade

Federal officials emphasized that no findings have yet been made.

“The DOJ has not reached any conclusions about the subject matter of this investigation,” the Lansing letter states.

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Records requested

Each district has been ordered to preserve and provide extensive documentation dating back to September 2023, including:

Curricula, lesson plans and textbooks

Emails, messages and internal communications

Lists of events, clubs or programs related to listed topics

Complaints involving bathrooms, sports teams or facilities

Records of parent notifications and opt-out opportunities

The department also requested detailed logs of complaints, including complainant identities, incident descriptions and disciplinary outcomes.

Officials set an April 6 deadline for producing the records and warned that failure to comply could lead to enforcement action, including suspension or termination of federal funding or a civil lawsuit.

Legal basis cited

The DOJ letters reference a 2025 Supreme Court decision stating parents have long-recognized rights to direct the religious upbringing of their children and noting that instruction on certain topics may affect those interests.

The department also cited recent executive orders related to federal policy on gender identity and education standards as part of the legal framework guiding the reviews.

What happens next

Federal officials said they will work with districts to resolve any compliance concerns voluntarily if violations are found. If not, the government may pursue formal enforcement action.

The Justice Department said it will notify districts in writing if it determines they are in compliance and closes the investigations.

Representatives for the three school districts did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Requests for comment have been sent and will be updated when responses are received.