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2w ago

U.S. Departments Move to Enforce Against Kansas City, Kansas Schools Over Transgender Non‑Disclosure Policy

The agencies say the district's rule barring staff from telling parents a student's transgender status could violate FERPA and lead to court action or loss of federal funding, a step that could set a legal test of parental access and student privacy.

The U.S. Department of Education building, in Washington, D.C., U.S., October 21, 2025. REUTERS/Kylie Cooper/File Photo
An American flag and U.S. Department of Education flag fly outside the US Department of Education building in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 1, 2025. REUTERS/Annabelle Gordon
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Overview

  • The Education Department and Justice Department announced Tuesday they will pursue enforcement measures against Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools that could include judicial proceedings and withholding federal education funds.
  • The Education Department said its August 2025 probe concluded in April that the district's policy telling staff not to disclose a student's transgender status—even to parents—violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.
  • The agencies also told the district they believe some policies may run afoul of Title IX over restroom and locker‑room access and have formalized a closer DOE‑DOJ enforcement partnership to speed cases.
  • Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools rejected the federal findings in a public statement, saying the district acted in good faith and followed federal and state law; the district serves more than 21,000 students.
  • The case adds to a wider Trump administration push to limit transgender protections in schools and could affect students' privacy, parents' access to records and future federal enforcement of civil‑rights rules.