Education Dept investigates NC school over ignored trans locker room complaints
The U.S. Department of Education opened a civil rights investigation into a North Carolina school district after female students complained officials allowed a biological male into girls' locker rooms.
According to New York Post, the Department of Education launched the probe Monday targeting Cabarrus County Schools for permitting a transgender student access to female-only spaces. Female students have alleged that the district refused to properly investigate Title IX complaints regarding Cox Mill High School.
Trista Ruck, a student at Cox Mill High School, testified at a public school board hearing last December about a biological male student who participates on the football and basketball cheer teams. While acknowledging the student dresses and presents as female, Ruck emphasized that the core issue involved the student changing clothes in the women’s locker room and using women’s restrooms.
One female athlete reported that during scheduled spring workouts, she noticed the biological male student watching her and other girls dress and undress in the locker room, making her feel extremely uncomfortable, Ruck stated at the hearing.
Former Cox Mill principal Chris Myers reportedly told female students they could go elsewhere if they felt uncomfortable sharing intimate spaces with the transgender student. Myers subsequently resigned after claiming the district had no recourse to address the situation.
Kimberly Richey, DOE Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, indicated the investigation concerns potentially egregious violations of female students’ privacy and safety. She stated the DOE’s Office of Civil Rights would be highlighting the critical civil rights protections that women fought for decades to secure throughout June, emphasizing the Trump Administration’s vigorous commitment to protecting Title IX.
Richey added that under the Trump Administration, no woman or girl would have to fight alone to secure basic protections, and the department would not relent until Title IX is restored to the fullest extent of the law.
Conservative Legal Group Prompted Investigation
The conservative organization America First Legal filed a civil rights complaint last month citing the school district’s failure to address the issue. The group’s complaint noted that Cox Mill administrators claimed to have no specific policy even in 2024 under President Joe Biden, yet adopted his administration’s interpretation of Title IX.
Title IX, enacted in 1972, defends equal educational opportunities for women and provides protections against sex-based discrimination.
Part of Broader Trump Administration Enforcement
The Cox Mill case represents the latest civil rights investigation launched by President Trump’s Education Department. In January, the department began examining a Long Island school district where a biological boy sought to compete on a girls’ volleyball team.
One of President Trump’s Day One executive orders declared that male and female sexes are not changeable and mandated that executive branch agencies reflect sex accurately in all official capacities.
The Biden administration had interpreted Title IX to prohibit discrimination against perceived gender identity, allowing individuals to designate gender on official government documents like passports regardless of biological sex.
Representatives for Cabarrus County Schools and current Cox Mill High School principal Meghan Frazier did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
With information from New York Post
