MONTGEOMERY COUNTY, Md. (7News) — A growing dispute between federal education officials and Maryland school leaders is escalating into a formal investigation, focusing on how state and local policies address transgender students and whether they comply with federal civil rights law.
The U.S. Department of Education has opened investigations into the Maryland State Department of Education as well as several local school systems, including Montgomery County Public Schools, Prince George’s County Public Schools, and Frederick County Public Schools.
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According to federal officials, the investigation centers on how transgender students are treated in schools and whether current Maryland policies align with the administration’s interpretation of Title IX — the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education.
The department said it is reviewing whether state and district guidance regarding access to sports teams, locker rooms, bathrooms, and other school programs complies with federal civil rights requirements.
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Officials stressed that the investigation is ongoing and no conclusions have been reached. However, they have warned that school systems found to be out of compliance could face consequences, including the potential loss of federal funding.
“Students that are forced to share locker rooms with somebody of the opposite sex, that’s just something that this department is not going to tolerate. And so if schools continue to violate Title IX and fail to come into compliance with the sex based protections of Title IX, then absolutely their federal funding is at risk,” said Julie Hartman with the U.S Department of Education.
Federal oversight and potential consequences
Title IX enforcement has been a point of renewed focus at the federal level, with shifting interpretations over how the law applies to gender identity policies in schools. Under federal review, districts receiving Title IX-related complaints can be required to revise policies or risk funding implications if violations are confirmed.
Maryland education officials said they intend to cooperate fully with the investigation while continuing to follow state law and local policies designed to support all students.
Maryland State Department of Education provided a brief statement following news of the complaint:
The Maryland State Department of Education remains committed to supporting all students and upholding the law. We are aware of the complaint filed with the U.S. Department of Education. We have no comment while the complaint is under review.
A spokesperson for Frederick County Public Schools said the process is in an early fact-finding stage and emphasized that there is currently no evidence of violations.
Montgomery County Public Schools tells 7News that, “MCPS remains committed to providing safe, welcoming and inclusive learning environments for all students and to complying with applicable federal and Maryland laws and regulations. As the matter is now under review by the Office for Civil Rights, we have no further comment at this time.”
7News has also reached out to the Prince George’s County Schools.
The investigation is ongoing, and no timeline has been announced for when findings may be released. In the meantime, Maryland school systems remain under federal review as officials examine whether existing policies meet federal requirements under Title IX.
For now, both state and local leaders say they will continue operating under current guidance while responding to federal requests for information as the case develops.
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