Overview

• The Education Department and HHS civil-rights offices concluded the Minnesota Department of Education and the Minnesota State High School League violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports and access female facilities.
• The agencies listed participation in girls’ Alpine and Nordic skiing, lacrosse, track and field, volleyball, and fastpitch softball as examples in their joint noncompliance finding.
• Federal officials sent a proposed resolution requiring Minnesota to rescind guidance allowing such participation, mandate biology-based definitions of male and female, submit updated Title IX training and procedures, and direct apologies and restoration of records and titles to affected female athletes.
• Minnesota has 10 days to accept the resolution or face enforcement that could include Justice Department referral and jeopardized federal funding.
• Investigators said they elevated the case after a Champlin Park High School transgender pitcher’s postseason performance, while Minnesota leaders have cited state human-rights law, with the attorney general suing the administration and the education department saying it is reviewing the letter.