Overview
- New York City filed the federal lawsuit on Oct. 16 in Manhattan seeking restoration of the grants and an order preventing future cancellations.
- The halted Magnet Schools Assistance Program funding spans 19 sites serving about 7,700 students, with $11 million in carryover already disrupting this year’s programs and roughly $36 million more at risk.
- The Education Department declined to certify compliance after a Sept. 16 letter said policies allowing transgender students to use facilities and play on teams by gender identity violate Title IX and demanded swift changes.
- The complaint says federal officials rescinded previously approved grants without required notice, investigation or a hearing and argues the demands conflict with New York state law.
- Federal officials call the suit meritless, say MSAP requires civil-rights certification to protect female students under Title IX, and report similar actions affecting districts in Chicago and Fairfax County, Virginia.