U.S. Dept of Education opens Title IX investigations into 3 Michigan school districts

Office for Civil Rights to review whether district policies comply with federal law.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education has opened investigations into three Michigan school districts over allegations they violated federal Title IX protections by allowing students to participate in athletics and use locker rooms based on their gender identity.

The department’s Office for Civil Rights announced Thursday it is investigating Ann Arbor Public Schools, Monroe Public Schools and Chippewa Valley Schools.

Federal officials said the investigations will examine whether the districts violated Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding.

According to the Education Department, Ann Arbor Public Schools allegedly maintained policies that allowed a biological male student to compete on a girls’ volleyball team and use female locker room facilities.

In Monroe Public Schools, officials said complaints alleged female volleyball players were required to compete against a team that included a biological male athlete and share locker room facilities with that athlete. The department said some parents reported their concerns were not adequately addressed by school officials.

The investigation involving Chippewa Valley Schools centers on allegations that a female student athlete was permitted to use a male-only locker room.

“The convoluted practice of allowing students to participate on sex-segregated athletic teams and make use of locker rooms based on ‘gender identity’ is not only known to be unsafe for students, but is a direct violation of federal law,” said Kimberly Richey in a statement released by the department.

Richey said the Trump administration would continue enforcing Title IX based on biological sex and investigate allegations of violations.

The announcement comes as the Education Department marks what it calls Title IX Month, commemorating the law’s anniversary. The department said it has recently opened similar investigations in other states and issued enforcement warnings to several school districts nationwide.

The investigations follow a February 2025 executive order signed by Donald Trump directing federal agencies to protect opportunities for women and girls in sports. The administration said the order was intended to ensure participation in women’s sports is limited to biological females.

The districts have not yet publicly responded to the allegations. An investigation does not indicate wrongdoing has occurred, and the Department of Education said it will review the facts before determining whether federal law was violated.

Title IX, enacted in 1972, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

The school districts have not yet commented on the allegations.