DENVER – The U.S. Education Department has launched an investigation into Denver Public Schools after a high school changed a girls’ restroom into an all-gender restroom while keeping a separate bathroom for boys. Officials are looking into whether this decision violates Title IX, a federal law that bans discrimination based on sex.
This investigation is unusual and marks a shift in how Title IX is enforced. Under former President Joe Biden, the law was interpreted to include protections for LGBTQ+ individuals. However, a judge later overturned that policy. Now, with President Donald Trump in office, the administration is taking a different stance on the issue.
Craig Trainor, the acting assistant secretary for civil rights, emphasized the administration’s commitment to fighting discrimination. “Let me be clear: it is a new day in America, and under President Trump, the Office for Civil Rights will not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” he said in a statement.
Denver Public Schools responded by saying they have not yet received an official notice of the investigation. They declined to comment further until they receive more information.
Brett Sokolow, president of the Association of Title IX Administrators, explained that the case raises new legal questions. “The argument here is that an all-gender restroom may not be the same as a restroom for only one gender. The Trump administration believes there is a legal right to single-sex bathrooms, but it’s unclear if courts will support this view,” Sokolow said.
The Education Department investigates thousands of Title IX complaints every year, most of them related to sports. Schools usually resolve these cases by making voluntary changes, though the government does have the power to cut federal funding for institutions that break civil rights laws.
In 2024, the department investigated another case involving a transgender middle school student. The student reported being harassed and told they were in the wrong bathroom. To settle the case, the school district agreed to improve staff training and allow the student to join an LGBTQ outreach committee.
This latest case in Denver could set a new precedent for how schools handle restroom policies. It remains to be seen how courts will rule on the issue and what impact it may have on future Title IX enforcement.
