The U.S. Education Department has threatened Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland and Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan with federal funding cuts, alleging violations of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) related to transgender student policies.
The actions signal a broader federal stance on transgender rights in schools, potentially impacting educational policies and federal funding for districts nationwide.
The U.S. Education Department has threatened two school districts, Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland and Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan, with federal funding cuts over their transgender policies. The department alleges that both districts violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
In its statement, the Education Department claimed that Anne Arundel County Public Schools classified information about a student's gender identity as "confidential medical information" that cannot be shared with parents. The department also stated that Ann Arbor Public Schools likely violated FERPA through a policy that requires school employees to hide a child's transgender status from their parents.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools responded by stating they learned of the department's assertions through a public statement and had not received any formal correspondence or documents. The district indicated it would review any information received with legal counsel and respond accordingly. Ann Arbor Public Schools had no immediate comment.
The Education Department indicated that the Trump administration would take enforcement action against the Maryland district and gave the Michigan district until August 10 to demonstrate why similar action should not be pursued. Violations of FERPA, the primary federal student privacy law, can lead to the termination of federal funding.