Trump administration threatens Anne Arundel schools over gender identity policy
The Trump administration is threatening legal action and the loss of federal funding over the Anne Arundel County school system's gender identity policy.
In a joint statement, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Department of Education (ED) alleged that schools in the district withheld information from parents about a student's gender identity and gender transition.
The department claims the school district violated parental rights protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
"ED's Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to take enforcement action against Anne Arundel County after determining the District improperly classifies information about a student's so-called "gender identity" as "confidential medical information" that cannot be shared with parents," the Department of Education stated.
In its statement, the ED said its SPPO received complaints from parents in Anne Arundel County who found out that the school "was secretly helping their daughter pretend to be male at school" after the parents received an email that referred to their daughter by male pronouns.
The department said the principal declined to provide details about the student's gender transition, while the assistant principal refused to hand over the child's relevant records.
"These policies and practices unlawfully impeded the parents' ability to exercise their FERPA rights when it mattered most," the ED said.
"As a mother and a grandmother, it is unconscionable that any school district would hide the most sensitive information about children in their care from their own parents," said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. "This is not only an affront to basic moral principles, but also to parents' rights under federal law."
Earlier this month, two parents announced a federal lawsuit, alleging the school "socially transitioned" their child without notice or their consent by using a masculine name and masculine pronouns for Mary Doe, according to The Baltimore Banner.
Anne Arundel County Public Schools responded to inquiries about the DOJ and ED's joint statement.
"AACPS first learned of the U.S. Department of Education's assertions through its July 27, 2026, press release," the department said in a statement. "The school system has not received any formal notice, findings, correspondence, or supporting documentation regarding the actions described. Once such information is received, AACPS and its legal counsel will carefully review it and respond through the appropriate process. AACPS takes its responsibilities under FERPA seriously and cannot discuss matters involving an individual student."
