MEAD, Wash. — The Mead School Board is asking for the Departments of Education and Justice to intervene in their battle with the state of Washington’s policies on transgender athletes.
The request comes as President Trump made an executive order banning transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports. Trump has threatened to withhold funding for schools not in compliance.
The executive order is at odds with Washington state law which bans discrimination based on gender.
Because of state law, Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal has instructed schools to continue to allow transgender athletes to participate based on gender identity. Reykdal’s office found Mead’s policy did not align with the state.
The Mead School District now says it’s facing a no-win situation between state and federal law.
The Mead School District is asking the DOE and DOJ to step in saying the state’s mandate infringes on parental rights, creates unfairness in sports, and puts funding at risk.
The district is asking the federal departments to protect its funding, clarify if federal or state law has precedence, and investigate alleged civil rights violations by the state.
“We are fighting to protect the educational stability of over 10,000 students, and we will not stand by as state agencies trample parental rights, put female athletes at a disadvantage, and jeopardize our ability to serve students,” said Mead School Board President Michael Cannon.
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