Overview

• The U.S. Department of Education has launched investigations into California and Maine, alleging violations of the Family Educational Rights Privacy Act (FERPA).
• California's Assembly Bill 1955, which prevents schools from disclosing students' gender identity to parents without consent, is a central focus of the federal probe.
• Maine faces scrutiny over policies allowing the creation of 'gender plans' for transgender students that may not be accessible to parents, potentially violating FERPA.
• Both states risk losing substantial federal education funding, with California alone potentially forfeiting up to $7.9 billion if found noncompliant.
• State leaders, including California Governor Gavin Newsom and Maine Governor Janet Mills, have vowed to defend their policies in court, emphasizing student privacy and transgender protections.