“The Department of Education’s re-write of Title IX exceeds its statutory authority and undermines the essential protections Title IX was designed to provide,” Bryan said.
A closer look
According to previous Community Impact reporting, the Biden administration expanded Title IX in spring 2024 to prevent discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and pregnancy at federally funded colleges and K-12 schools.
O’Connor ruled that the Biden administration overreached its authority by amending Title IX to include gender identity and sexual orientation.
As part of his Feb. 19 statement, Bryan said the CISD board is “committed to ensuring that Title IX continues to fulfill its foundational promise: to prevent any form of discrimination based on sex in education.
“This ruling, which states that the re-write ‘undermines the purpose of Title IX, endangers students, and has no basis in reality,’ underscores our concerns and validates the rationale behind our challenge,” Bryan said.
The backstory
According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title IX—a 1972 nondiscrimination law—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.
Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Education Agency on April 29 to ignore new Title IX rules aimed at protecting LGBTQ+ students from discrimination.
In a letter to President Joe Biden, Abbott argued the expanded rules exceed the federal government’s authority, calling them a “ham-handed effort to impose a leftist belief.”
Following the governor’s direction, CISD denounced the amendments to Title IX regulations with 6-0 board approval May 6.
