Chicago City Wire

U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced the initiation of investigations into three educational entities in Illinois: the Illinois Department of Education, Chicago Public Schools District 299, and Deerfield Public Schools District 109. The investigations stem from allegations that these institutions violated Title IX by requiring female students to share locker rooms with a male student.

The complaints prompting these investigations were filed with OCR, including one by the Defense of Freedom Institute and Liberty Justice Center. These organizations allege discrimination based on sex against the Illinois State Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools, partly due to repeated violations by Deerfield School District.

"Congress enacted Title IX to end sex-based discrimination against females in educational programs," said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor. "This preserves the privacy and safety of all involved, especially young girls. The Department is deeply troubled by these allegations and will investigate this matter fully."

Robert Eitel, President and Co-Founder of the Defense of Freedom Institute, expressed concern over reports that school administrators allegedly harassed a student for objecting to sharing facilities with members of the opposite sex. "We applaud the Department for launching an investigation and urge the agency to take action to terminate federal funding until the bad actors comply with Title IX," Eitel said.

A parent testified at a recent District 109 School Board Meeting that female students at Shepard Middle School reported a male presence in their locker room during gym class changes. Allegedly, school officials reprimanded these students for refusing to undress in front of him and forced them back into the locker room throughout the week. According to a complaint filed with OCR, an administrator informed female students that as long as a student identifies as female, they may use female intimate facilities.

Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Violations can result in loss of federal funding.

Contact:

Press Office

press@ed.gov

(202) 401-1576

Information from this article can be found here.