The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has initiated a Title IX investigation into the Saratoga Springs City School District. The action comes after allegations that the district may have violated federal law, specifically Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded education programs.
This development follows a request from Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, who had urged U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon to assess whether a policy adopted by the district in March 2025 is compliant with federal regulations. The policy in question supports transgender and gender-expansive students' rights to use facilities and participate in activities consistent with their gender identity.
Secretary McMahon stated, "The Trump Administration has been unrelenting in our effort to ensure that women and girls’ educational experiences are not marred by sex discrimination." She emphasized the importance of upholding federal civil rights laws to protect women's dignity and prevent males from participating in female sports or accessing female-only facilities.
Congresswoman Stefanik expressed gratitude towards President Donald Trump and Secretary McMahon for initiating the investigation swiftly. She criticized the school board's resolution as a violation of Title IX and pledged her commitment to advocating for young women's rights.
As part of the investigation, OCR has requested various documents from the district. These include narratives related to the allegations, policies regarding male participation on girls' athletic teams, definitions of terms like "sex" and "gender identity," documentation on related complaints or inquiries, lists of sports teams for both genders, and athletic team rosters identifying male participants on girls' teams.
The investigation underscores OCR's authority under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to address potential discrimination based on sex in education settings receiving federal financial aid.
