Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon sent a letter on July 29 to the Anne Arundel County school district in Maryland, demanding that the district cease its practice of withholding information about student gender transitions from parents. Dhillon stated that the district's policy appears to violate the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which grants parents access to their children's educational records. The letter warns that failure to comply within seven days could result in litigation from the Justice Department and potential loss of federal funding.
The Trump administration is challenging school policies that allow students to socially transition without parental knowledge, arguing that federal education privacy law requires disclosure of gender-identity records. The letter also highlights concerns raised by parents regarding the district's handling of gender identity information.
LGBT advocates argue that nondisclosure is crucial for the safety of children in non-affirming or abusive environments, while social conservatives contend that parents should be informed about their children's gender identity. The DOJ, in partnership with the Department of Education, is investigating similar policies in other districts, including Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan.
The Anne Arundel County school district allows students to use preferred names and pronouns without parental approval, but staff are instructed to involve families unless there are safety concerns. Dhillon emphasized that school districts must comply with federal law regarding parental access to information, and failure to do so will lead to enforcement actions.