Carroll ISD board President Cam Bryan updated district residents on the status of the district’s Title IX lawsuit during the board’s regular meeting June 24.

The details

During his remarks, Bryan reminded district residents the new Title IX rules being implemented by the Biden Administration will go into effect on Aug. 1 in Texas. He added that courts in Kentucky and Louisiana have stopped the implementation of the new rules in their respective states.

“Without [the Carroll ISD] lawsuit, the school district would run the risk that it would have to implement policies that violate the rights of its students and staff,” Bryan said.

Bryan added he and the board expect in early July the court will likely decide on the district’s request to stop the Title IX changes.


The backstory

According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title IX has historically served to protect students from discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. Further, Title IX has sought to eliminate discrimination against women in education, and to provide men and women with equal educational opportunity.

According to an April 22 news release from the American Council on Education, the new regulations introduce significant shifts in how institutions address sexual harassment and assault allegations while expanding protections for LGBTQ+ and pregnant students.

These new regulations include:
  • Eliminating the mandate for live hearings with cross-examination as part of campus disciplinary processes for resolving sexual assault
  • A new definition of sexual harassment
  • Extending jurisdiction to off-campus and international incidents
  • Clarifying protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy and parenting status
The news release states the proposal on transgender participation on specific men's and women's athletics teams is absent from the changes slated to take place on Aug. 1. It is being delayed until after the November election.


Gov. Greg Abbott sent a letter to President Joe Biden on April 29 stating he exceeded his constitutional authority in rewriting certain aspects of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Abbott has instructed the Texas Education Agency to ignore the changes.

In May, Carroll ISD became the first school district in the country to file a lawsuit against the Biden administration for Title IX changes.