The OCR launched its investigation after a transgender-identifying boy claimed the victory in the Maine Class B championship for the Greely High School girls’ track and field team in February.
President Donald Trump’s Department of Education on Wednesday announced that the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) is violating federal civil rights law by allowing boys to play on female sports teams.
The department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) sent a letter to MDOE Commissioner Pender Makin notifying her that MDOE has policies and practices that are in violation of Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities receiving federal funding.
The OCR launched its investigation after a transgender-identifying boy claimed the victory in the Maine Class B championship for the Greely High School girls’ track and field team in February. The high school boy was allowed to perform on the girls’ team, despite Trump’s executive order barring males from participating on female sports teams.
“The outcome of OCR’s investigation of MDOE confirms that it has violated federal antidiscrimination law by allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports and boys to occupy girls’ intimate facilities.” Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor said in a statement.
“Today’s findings and proposed resolution agreement demonstrate to MDOE and any other entity receiving federal funding that the Trump Administration will not tolerate unlawful discrimination against girls and women,” he continued. “If Maine does not swiftly and completely come into compliance with Title IX, we will initiate the process to limit MDOE’s access to federal funding.”
The OCR proposed a resolution agreement with the MDOE to resolve the Title IX violations and has offered the department ten days to voluntarily agree or “risk imminent enforcement action including referral to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for proceedings and termination of funds, the DoE said. The OCR’s letter specifically stated that “[s]hould MDOE fail to direct the public school districts in its jurisdiction to adopt and implement policies and practices that comply with Title IX, OCR may initiate additional investigations into such school districts.
