Schools expect minimal impact with Title IX pacts rescinded

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(The Center Square) – Following the U.S. Department of Education’s rescission of multiple resolution agreements - based on claims that prior administrations broadened Title IX beyond its original scope - affected school districts say the move will have little to no impact on current policies. The districts reaffirm their commitment to student safety and compliance.

The Office for Civil Rights uses resolution agreements to require schools to take corrective action when violations of federal civil rights laws are found. According to the department, previous administrations applied Title IX protections to gender identity rather than biological sex, an interpretation current officials say exceeds the law’s original scope.

The department said those interpretations led to enforcement actions against school districts for conduct such as the use of pronouns or inquiries about a student’s gender identity. 

The department rescinded six agreements involving Cape Henlopen School District in Delaware, Delaware Valley School District, Fife School District in Washington state, La Mesa-Spring Valley School District in California, Sacramento City Unified and Taft College in California. 

The Center Square reached out to all the schools requesting a comment on the matter. 

“Prior Administrations regularly misinterpreted Title IX to pander to political ideology and police ‘misgendering’ despite not having sound legal grounds,” Amelia Joy, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education, told The Center Square. “With [these] actions, the Trump Administration is upholding the law and righting years of wrongs.”

Officials with the La Mesa-Spring Valley School District said the federal action is not expected to affect current policies or practices.

“The letter has no effect on our district policies and procedures, and our understanding is that it has no effect on the training or policies required at the state level,” La Mesa-Spring Valley School Superintendent David Feliciano told The Center Square. “We remain committed to ensuring a safe and supportive learning environment for all students.”

Taft College officials told The Center Square that they had not received direct communication from the Department of Education since the announcement.

“Taft College [is] in full compliance with OCR regulations, and no further action is required,” Taft College Interim Superintendent Leslie Minor said. 

Stephanie DeMalto, a spokesperson for Cape Henlopen School District, said the district had received correspondence from the Office for Civil Rights regarding its agreement.

“As always, we are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment where all students can succeed,” DeMalto told The Center Square. “We will continue to work collaboratively to ensure our practices and programs support the well-being, growth, and achievement of every student.” 

The move follows a January 2025 federal court decision that struck down the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX rule, which had expanded protections to include gender identity.

Title IX, enacted in 1972, prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs or activities that receive federal funding.