HOUSTON – The United States Department of Education has launched an investigation into Katy Independent School District after receiving a Title IX complaint regarding a policy passed by the district in August that civil rights advocates deemed as anti-transgender.
The complaint was filed by Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), a student-led movement that aims to include youth influence in educational policy.
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The Katy ISD policy in question has seven sections on several elements of the transgender movement in schools, including limiting bathroom access to align with sex assigned at birth and prohibiting staff members from asking students for their preferred pronouns.
The policy also limits athletic participation to students’ biological sex and prohibits schools from teaching gender fluidity.
A full transcript of the SEAT complaint can be read here.
In response to the complaint, the U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation.
“The Department of Education opening an investigation marks a significant step forward in holding Katy ISD accountable for its actions and ensuring that transgender students are equally protected under federal civil rights laws,” SEAT organizers said in their media release.
According to a spokesperson for the department, the investigation is related to Title IX laws that prohibit sex-based discrimination in schools. OCR said they are not releasing further details about the investigation. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has spoken in opposition of the federal changes made to Title IX laws surrounding LGBTQ+ students in U.S. schools.
Katy ISD responded to KPRC 2, saying the district denies any wrongdoing.
KPRC 2 reporter Corley Peel spoke with a parent about the matter.
“I would agree [with the policy], because I would like to know what’s going on with my child at school and what my child would like to be called at school to see if it differs from home,” one Katy ISD parent who asked to not be identified said. “There’s always an investigation going on somewhere. Not everybody agrees, and not everyone has the same opinions.”
Students also have opinions on the investigation.
Jarred Burton is a Katy ISD student and a member of SEAT. He said the group filed the complaint back in November with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights.
“Personally, I think it’s very exciting. It shows that the tides are kind of turning,” Burton said.
Burton hopes the policy will be appealed, because students and teachers have been on edge.
“A lot of teachers, even if they don’t necessarily agree with the student’s identity, they don’t want to be putting the child at risk of whatever their family may react to them coming out or being outed,” said Burton.
After the investigation was announced, Katy ISD released this statement:
“The district is committed to offering equal educational opportunities to our entire community. While we have received the OCR filing and deny any wrongdoing, we are committed to remaining fully cooperative and responsive throughout the process.”