PETERBOROUGH, N.H. — The U.S. Department of Education has launched a Title IX investigation into a New Hampshire school district accused of letting boys in girls-only spaces.
The department’s Office for Civil Rights on Tuesday opened a complaint into the Contoocook Valley School District in Peterborough, federal officials said in a statement.
Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
The complaint was filed amid reports that the school district is allowing biological men to use girls’ restrooms and locker rooms.
“Young women should never feel unsafe or uncomfortable in their intimate spaces because their school leaders care more about gender ideology than protecting girls’ dignity and privacy,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. “Placing the burden on girls to move out of their own intimate spaces when there is a male present is not just absurd, it also discriminates against girls.
The school district received notification of the Office of Civil Rights’ investigation on Tuesday, according to Contoocook Valley Schools Superintendent Ann Forrest.
“We are currently in the process of reviewing the complaint. The District is committed to following both state and federal anti-discrimination laws,” Forrest said in a statement to Boston 25.
“The District’s anti-discrimination policies constitute a comprehensive plan required by state law to prevent, assess the presence of, intervene in, and respond to incidents of discrimination,” Forrest said.
The school district is accused of violating federal law by applying state law and district policy to allow boys into girls-only spaces, despite complaints from female students about privacy and safety issues, federal officials said.
Also, according to federal officials, discrimination based on sex is allegedly absent from Contoocook Valley High School’s non-discrimination policy, with the clause only explicitly promising “a learning environment that is free from discrimination based on race, religion, disability, gender identity, or relationship preference.”
“OCR will determine whether the District violated Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) by allowing students to access intimate facilities based on ‘gender identity,’ not biological sex,“ federal officials said.
Richey said federal officials will “enforce Title IX to ensure that women and girls are safe when they are at school,” Richey said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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