The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has taken a critical step against illegal discrimination against women and girls by Illinois and Chicago public schools by launching investigations into the Illinois Department of Education, Chicago Public Schools District 299, and Deerfield Public Schools District 109. Title IX was enacted to ensure that no student is subjected to discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities, and this includes safeguarding the privacy, dignity, and safety of all students in intimate settings such as locker rooms.
These investigations are based on complaints filed with OCR, including a complaint filed by the Defense of Freedom Institute and Liberty Justice Center, against the Illinois State Board of Education and Chicago Public Schools for discrimination on the basis of sex, in part, emanating from the Deerfield School District’s alleged repeated violations of Title IX. The reported actions of school administrators—allegedly reprimanding and pressuring female students to share intimate spaces with a biological male student—are not only inconsistent with the intent of Title IX but also undermine the trust that students and parents place in educational institutions to protect their well-being.
The Department’s decision to investigate these complaints reflects its commitment to ensuring that Title IX is enforced as Congress intended: to protect students from sex-based discrimination and to provide separate, private facilities for males and females where appropriate. This is not a matter of denying anyone’s identity or rights but rather a matter of balancing those rights with the privacy and safety concerns of all students, particularly minors.
“We are pleased that the Department has acted swiftly on our complaint,” said Jacob Huebert, President of Liberty Justice Center. “We look forward to seeing the state and these districts held accountable for their illegal discrimination.”
The Department’s actions reaffirm its role as a protector of civil rights in education, and LJC stands in full support of its efforts to uphold the principles of fairness, equality, and respect for all students.