The US Education Department has threatened to cut funding to two school districts in Michigan and Maryland over their transgender policies. The department alleged that Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland and Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) by not disclosing information about students’ gender identity to parents.

Policy Details

The Education Department said that Anne Arundel County Public Schools classified information about a student’s gender identity as ‘confidential medical information’ that cannot be shared with parents. Ann Arbor Public Schools, on the other hand, has a policy that allegedly requires school employees to hide a child’s transgender status from their parents.

Civil rights groups argue that such actions by the Trump administration violate academic freedom, free speech, and due process. The Education Department has given Ann Arbor Public Schools until August 10 to demonstrate why the government should not move forward with similar action.

Violations of FERPA can result in the termination of federal funding. The Trump administration has taken multiple actions to limit transgender rights, including issuing executive orders and taking enforcement action against educational institutions.

Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.