The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a lawsuit on October 27 against Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland, alleging the district violated federal laws by facilitating secret social gender transitions for students without parental knowledge or consent.
The complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, accuses the district of withholding information about students’ gender identities and name changes from parents under policies that require staff to use students’ self-identified names and pronouns. The DOJ claims these actions violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA).
DOJ Alleges Systemic Cover-Ups
The lawsuit cites a case involving a student, identified as Mary Doe, who requested to be addressed by a male name at school. According to the DOJ, school staff disclosed the name change to other parents while withholding it from Mary Doe’s parents. When her parents sought access to her educational records, they were told some required an appointment and others a subpoena, despite FERPA guaranteeing parental access to such records.
The DOJ’s complaint states that the district’s policies instruct staff to document students’ preferred pronouns and names without notifying parents, citing unilateral assessments that disclosure could pose a safety risk to students. The lawsuit also alleges the district denied parents’ access to information they are legally entitled to receive under federal education laws.
School District Denies Allegations
Anne Arundel County Public Schools denied the allegations in a statement following the lawsuit’s filing. The district expressed regret over the DOJ’s decision but did not provide further details on its gender-related policies. The school system, which serves more than 84,000 students across 128 schools, has not publicly outlined how it will respond to the lawsuit.
Legal and Policy Implications
The DOJ’s lawsuit marks a significant escalation in a broader national debate over parental rights in education, particularly regarding gender identity policies in public schools. The complaint argues that the district’s actions violated federal protections by excluding parents from critical decisions about their children’s education records.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division stated that the department is committed to ending illegal practices that undermine parental rights. The lawsuit seeks to enforce compliance with federal laws and could set a precedent for similar cases nationwide.
Background on Federal Laws Cited
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) grants parents the right to access their children’s education records and restricts the unauthorized disclosure of personally identifiable information. The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) requires schools to obtain written parental consent or advance notification before administering surveys or evaluations that reveal sensitive information about students.
The DOJ alleges that Anne Arundel County Public Schools failed to comply with both laws by withholding records and implementing policies that bypass parental involvement in gender-related decisions.
Next Steps
The lawsuit is ongoing, and no court date has been set. The outcome could influence how school districts nationwide handle gender identity policies and parental notification requirements. The DOJ has not indicated whether additional legal action may follow against other districts with similar policies.