Here’s President Trump’s warning.
The Trump administration is taking a tougher stance on parental rights in public education, warning that two school districts could face the loss of federal funding over policies that allegedly keep parents from accessing information about their children’s gender identity.
The action, announced by the U.S. Department of Education in partnership with the Department of Justice (DOJ), is part of the administration’s broader effort to enforce federal education law and ensure parents have full access to their children’s school records.
Trump Administration Targets School District Policies
According to the Education Department, its Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) has opened enforcement actions involving Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland and Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan.
Federal officials argue that both districts may have violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by limiting parents’ access to information related to their children’s gender identity.
FERPA is a long-standing federal law that gives parents the legal right to inspect and review their children’s education records. The Trump administration maintains that schools cannot withhold records that parents are legally entitled to see.
Maryland District Accused Of Withholding Student Information
The Education Department alleges that Anne Arundel County Public Schools classified a student’s gender identity as confidential medical information and failed to disclose details of the student’s gender transition after the child’s parents requested access to school records.
Federal officials contend that such practices conflict with FERPA’s parental access requirements.
Earlier this year, the Education Department sent guidance to education leaders across the country reminding school districts that federal law requires compliance with FERPA. The agency also warned against policies that prevent parents from accessing information maintained in student records.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon said the administration intends to enforce the law aggressively.
“Compliance with FERPA is mandatory, and school districts that fail to follow or misrepresent the law’s requirements should expect swift enforcement from the federal government.”
Michigan School District Also Under Investigation
The Education Department also announced an investigation into Ann Arbor Public Schools.
According to federal officials, the district has policies directing staff not to disclose a student’s gender identity to parents and allegedly maintains separate filing systems for records related to gender identity. Investigators are reviewing whether those practices comply with federal education law.
The administration has warned that Anne Arundel County could face judicial action and the possible loss of federal education funding if violations are confirmed.
Ann Arbor Public Schools has been given until August 10 to explain why the Education Department and the Department of Justice should not proceed with enforcement measures.
Linda McMahon: Parents Should Not Be Kept In The Dark
Education Secretary Linda McMahon said protecting parents’ rights remains a top priority for the Trump administration.
She said the Departments of Education and Justice will use every available legal tool to hold school districts accountable if they fail to comply with federal law.
McMahon also said the administration is committed to ensuring parents are fully informed about significant matters involving their children while they are in public schools.
School District Pushes Back
Anne Arundel County Public Schools disputed the federal government’s claims, saying district officials first learned about the allegations through the Education Department’s public announcement.
The district said it had not received formal notification or evidence supporting the federal government’s conclusions before the press release was issued.
At the time of the announcement, federal officials had not indicated whether additional school districts could face similar investigations.
Parental Rights Debate Continues
The latest action follows recent legal battles over parental notification policies in public schools, including a Supreme Court decision involving a California policy that sought to restrict automatic parental notifications when students changed their gender identity at school.
The Trump administration has made parental rights, school transparency, and enforcement of federal education laws central priorities. Officials say districts that fail to comply with FERPA could face investigations, legal action, and the potential loss of federal funding.
As debates over education policy continue nationwide, the administration’s latest move signals that federal oversight of parental access to student records is likely to remain a major issue in the months ahead.