American school district faces investigation over transgender rules

(MENAFN) The U.S. Department of Education has launched a civil rights investigation into the Katy Independent School District (ISD) in South Texas following allegations of discrimination based on its pronoun policy. The policy, adopted by the school board in August, requires parents to be notified if students identify as transgender or request the use of pronouns different from their biological sex.

The investigation was sparked by a complaint from Cameron Samuels, a former Katy ISD student who raised concerns about the discriminatory nature of the policy. The Department of Education’s Civil Rights Office responded by opening an investigation into the district, citing possible gender or disability discrimination.

In response to the investigation, Kadence Carter, a 17-year-old transgender who left the school district after the policy was implemented, expressed hope that it would serve as an example for other school boards across the country considering similar policies.

While Katy ISD has denied any wrongdoing and emphasized its commitment to providing equal educational opportunities, the Education Department’s move coincides with recent changes to federal rules governing gender discrimination. The Biden administration redefined gender discrimination under Title IX of the federal Civil Rights Act to include gender identity and sexual orientation. This step is scheduled to come into force in August. However, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has ordered schools in his state to ignore these new rules, setting the stage for a possible conflict between state and federal guidelines.

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