The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights have found that the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) and the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL) violated Title IX regulations. The agencies determined that both organizations failed to comply with federal law by allowing male athletes to compete in female sports teams and use facilities designated for females.
According to the findings, MDE and MSHSL permitted male students to participate on girls’ teams in several sports, including Alpine skiing, Nordic skiing, lacrosse, track and field, volleyball, and fastpitch softball. The investigation intensified after a widely reported incident involving a male athlete from Champlin Park High School who played on the girls’ varsity fastpitch softball team since 2023. This athlete led his team to multiple victories against all-girls teams, notably dominating a state championship game.
The initial inquiry began when MSHSL publicly stated its intent to disregard federal antidiscrimination laws following President Trump’s February 2025 Executive Order “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” In June 2025, both departments expanded their investigations after reports about the participation of male athletes in girls’ sports competitions.
Craig Trainor, Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education, said: “For too many years, Minnesota’s political leadership has found itself on the wrong side of justice, common sense, and the American people. Now the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League find themselves on the wrong side of Title IX by allowing males to compete in women’s sports. The Trump Administration will not allow Minnesota or any other state to sacrifice the safety, fair treatment, and dignity of its female students to appease the false idols of radical gender ideology. Once an education program or entity takes federal funds, Title IX compliance becomes mandatory. And the federal government will hold Minnesota accountable until it recognizes that fact.”
Paula M. Stannard, Director at HHS’ OCR added: “Minnesota permits male athletes to compete in sports designated for females, which denies females the equal opportunities under Title IX that they deserve in athletic competition. Minnesota fails to recognize the fundamental biological differences between males and females—differences that justify single-sex teams and are essential to ensuring fair and safe competition for girls and women.”
A proposed Resolution Agreement has been sent to MDE and MSHSL requiring action within ten days or risk enforcement measures. The agreement includes rescinding policies permitting males in girls’ sports; issuing statewide notices mandating strict compliance with Title IX; adopting biology-based definitions for “male” and “female”; updating training materials subject to federal review; restoring records or titles taken from female athletes by male competitors; sending apology letters from MDE; demanding similar actions from MSHSL; and requiring annual certification from schools regarding compliance.
Investigators also cited policy documents from as early as 2017 that described obligations under Title IX incorrectly by suggesting schools must allow transgender students access based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs receiving federal financial assistance.
