Washington, D.C. — On June 25, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) announced the conclusion of an investigation into the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF). The investigation followed allegations of discrimination against women and girls on the basis of sex. The OCR determined that in both cases, the CDE and CIF are in “clear violation” of Title IX.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits any discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Following President Trump’s signing of the Protect Women’s Sports Executive Order, CIF announced it intended to keep state law, which allows athletes to participate in sports based on gender identity rather than biological sex. OCR opened an investigation into CIF on February 12 following the announcement.
California education departments prevented equality for girls in sports by allowing males in female sports and private spaces, the Department of Education said. The department noted that the Trump Administration has been working to protect female athletes from “unfair competition” when transgender athletes who are biologically male have been allowed to compete against biological females.
“The Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon. “The state must swiftly come into compliance with Title IX or face the consequences that follow.”
The proposed Resolution Agreement made by the Department of Education requires several actions from the CDE and CIF. This includes notifying all recipients of federal funding that the state will comply with Title IX and forbid biological male participation in female sports. The CDE will also require all federally funded recipients to restore individual records, titles and awards from male participants to female athletes. Following this restoration, the CDE will send apology letters to each individual.
