The announced Friday that discriminated against girls by allowing transgender students to compete in female sports and access female facilities, including bathrooms and overnight accommodations.
The agency’s said Jeffco Public Schools violated and gave Colorado’s second-largest K-12 system 10 days to agree to a proposed resolution — including reversing any policies that allow transgender students to play sports — or “risk imminent enforcement action.”
Jeffco Public Schools pushed back Friday afternoon, saying the Education Department’s “conclusion is erroneous” and conflicts with Colorado law.
“Providing equal access to programs and services for all Jeffco students, including those who are transgender, does not violate Title IX,” district leaders said in a statement. “The department’s interpretation has no basis in the Title IX regulations and is not supported by any binding court decision.”
The Education Department has targeted K-12 districts nationwide for their policies supporting transgender students since President Donald Trump returned to office last year, threatening to pull their federal funding for what the administration calls discriminatory policies.
Attorneys specializing in Title IX have previously told The Denver Post that the Trump administration is misapplying the landmark civil rights law, which was created to ensure girls and women can participate in school activities without sexual harassment.
Last year, the Office of Civil Rights issued a similar determination that Denver Public Schools had discriminated against girls in violation of Title IX by creating gender-neutral bathrooms at East High School and enacting policies that allow students to use facilities that correspond with their gender identities.
In September, DPS defied the Education Department’s deadline to convert the restrooms back into single-sex facilities or face unspecified “enforcement action.” But the district never heard back from the agency about the Title IX investigation, DPS spokesman Bill Good said Friday.
The Trump administration launched its investigation into Jeffco Public Schools last year after a family sued the district in 2024, alleging their daughter went on an overnight trip and was assigned to share a bed with a transgender girl.
“Today’s findings reveal sweeping Title IX violations by Jefferson County Public Schools — denying fairness and equality to female students by allowing males into their private facilities, overnight accommodations and athletics,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said . “The districtap decision to prioritize ‘gender identity’ over ensuring equal access for its female students is unconscionable.”
The federal government has requested that Jeffco Public Schools agree to a settlement that includes rescinding any policies that allow transgender students to access girls’ facilities — including overnight accommodations — and to play on female sports teams, according to the civil rights office.
The Department of Education’s proposed settlement also would require Jeffco Public Schools to issue a public statement that says the district will use “biology-based definitions of the words ‘male’ and ‘female,'” the agency said.
“The statement shall specify that Title IX applies irrespective of state law or regulation and the policies of sports governing bodies, and provide instructions for how to report or file a complaint of sex discrimination under the districtap grievance policies,” the Education Department said.
Jeffco Public Schools officials did not say directly whether they plan to comply with the Education Department’s proposed settlement.
“As we consider next steps in partnership with our community and state and local officials, two things remain certain: (1) Jeffco will continue to maintain its compliance with the law, and (2) we will center decisions on providing exemplary, equitable educational opportunities for all students,” the district said in its statement.
The Department of Education said it received athletic rosters that showed “male students occupy 61 roster positions on girls sports teams” at Jeffco schools, according to an agency news release. The Post could not immediately verify the department’s claims.
Transgender students’ participation in sports has become a flashpoint for conservatives and schools. The has for years recognized the right of transgender athletes to participate on sports teams that match their gender identities, but agreed last year not to penalize districts’ transgender athlete bans.
The heard arguments in January regarding bans on transgender girls and women playing school sports and appeared from participating.
Jeffco Public Schools said the federal government’s stance, including its proposed agreement, conflicts with state law. District officials said in their statement that Jeffco’s policies are in alignment with the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act, previous federal guidance on Title IX and CHSAA policy.
“Prior federal administrations have taken the direct opposite view — that Title IX protects transgender students’ access to school programs and facilities,” Jeffco Public Schools officials said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
