The U.S. Department of Education is launching an investigation into Buncombe County Schools over its policy on restroom use by transgender female students.
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The Department of Education announced the Title IX investigation on Wednesday, based on a parent’s claim that girls in the district were being “forced to share their female-only restrooms with biological men,” according to an agency press release.
Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education programs that receive federal funds. The Trump administration has argued that the intent of Title IX is to protect women and girls, and is using it to challenge schools’ and universities’ policies on transgender female students’ restroom use and sports team membership.
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The U.S. Department of Education did not respond to emailed questions about the complaint or the investigation. Calls and emails to Buncombe County Schools’ officials were not returned Thursday.
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The announcement of the Office of Civil Rights’ Title IX investigation into Buncombe comes after the June 1 announcement of a similar investigation into Cabarrus County Schools over claims that transgender students are using female restrooms and locker rooms.
WBTV reported that Cabarrus school officials said they were cooperating with the investigation, but could not comment on specifics.
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