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U.S. Department of Commerce office for civil rights in education (OCR) announced Wednesday that it has launched 18 Title IX investigations into school districts across the country, a day after the Supreme Court heard oral arguments on protecting women and girls in sports.
The school district has High-profile transgender athlete controversies are among those surveyed. Targeted areas include California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and Washington.
“In the same week that the Supreme Court hears oral arguments on the future of Title IX, OCR is aggressively pursuing allegations that entities that allow men to compete in women’s sports discriminate against women and girls. The Trump administration has made its position clear time and time again: Violating women’s rights, dignity, and fairness is unacceptable,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a press release.
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A protester holds a sign outside the Supreme Court to argue against a state law banning transgender girls and women from participating in school sports teams, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
“We will work tirelessly to pursue these investigations to uphold women’s right to equal access to education – a fight that began more than half a century ago and is far from over.”
Schools surveyed include:
- Jurupa School District (California)
- Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (California)
- Santa Monica College (California)
- Santa Rosa Junior College (California)
- Waterbury Public Schools (Connecticut)
- Hawaii State Department of Education (Hawaii)
- Regional Schools Unit 19 (Maine)
- Regional Schools Unit 57 (Maine)
- Foxborough Public Schools (Massachusetts)
- University of Nevada, Reno (Nevada)
- Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District (New York)
- New York City Department of Education (New York)
- Grand Valley School District (Pennsylvania)
- Champlain Valley School District (Vermont)
- Cheney Public Schools (Washington)
- Sudan School District No. 311 (Washington)
- Tacoma Public Schools (Washington)
- Vancouver Public Schools (Washington)
- Fox News Digital reached out to each school and district.
The districts are accused of maintaining “discriminatory policies or practices based on sex that allow students to participate in sports based on their ‘gender identity’ rather than their biological sex,” the Department of Education said. “These policies jeopardize women’s safety and equal access to educational programs and activities.”
The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District responded to a request for comment.
“The Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District has received a notice of review from the U.S. Department of Education,” school officials said. “Our top priority has always been to provide a safe, respectful and inclusive learning environment for all students while meeting our obligations under state and federal law. The district’s policy was adopted in good faith and consistent with applicable law, and we will fully cooperate with all requests related to this matter.”
Education Secretary Linda McMahon addresses a crowd of protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court where it is hearing arguments over a state law banning transgender girls and women from competing on school sports teams, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Washington (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
OCR’s announcement comes as the Supreme Court hears arguments in two landmark cases protecting women and girls in sports.
The current question is whether Idaho Lawand West Virginia ban female transgender athletes from playing on teams that match their gender identity, discriminating on the basis of sex.
In Little v. Hecox, a male and female student trying to compete on the Boise State University women’s track and field and cross country teams argued that Idaho’s Women’s Sports Fairness Act violated the Equal Protection Clause by excluding transgender women.
State of West Virginia v. BPJ The story centers on a 15-year-old transgender athlete who identifies as a girl and believes the state’s ban violates the Constitution and Title IX prohibitions on sex discrimination in federally funded education programs.
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Lawyers for states defending the ban maintain that separating sports based on biological sex maintains fairness and safety for female athletes and is consistent with Title IX’s definition of sex.
Fox News’ Ashley Oliver contributed to this report.
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