US Department of Education orders Maine to comply with Title IX or face funding cuts – The Times of India

The US Department of Education‘s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has found that the Maine Department of Education (MDOE) is violating Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs. The finding, announced on March 19, 2025, comes after a February 21, 2025, investigation into MDOE’s policies and practices. This determination could lead to significant consequences for Maine’s education system, including potential loss of federal funding.
OCR’s investigation into MDOE revealed policies that allowed boys to compete in girls’ sports and access facilities designated for girls, including locker rooms and bathrooms. These actions were deemed in violation of Title IX, which guarantees that educational institutions receiving federal funding must provide equal opportunities for both male and female students.
Proposed resolution and enforcement options
As a result of these findings, OCR has issued a proposed Resolution Agreement to the MDOE. This agreement outlines specific steps that Maine must take to resolve the violations. The state has been given a 10-day window to voluntarily agree to the terms, or it will face enforcement actions. The potential actions include a referral to the US Department of Justice, which could lead to legal proceedings, and a move to limit MDOE’s access to federal funds.
OCR’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Craig Trainor, emphasized the importance of compliance with Title IX. “The outcome of OCR’s investigation of MDOE confirms that it has violated federal antidiscrimination law by allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports and boys to occupy girls’ intimate facilities,” Trainor said. “If Maine does not swiftly and completely come into compliance with Title IX, we will initiate the process to limit MDOE’s access to federal funding.”
Required corrective actions by MDOE
Under the proposed Resolution Agreement, MDOE must take several actions to ensure future compliance with Title IX:
1. MDOE will issue a directive to all public school districts in Maine, reminding them that failure to comply with Title IX could jeopardize their federal funding.
2. The directive will require schools to prevent males from participating in girls’ athletic programs or using facilities designated for females.
3. MDOE will restore individual recognitions to female athletes who were denied due to male participation in girls’ sports and issue formal apologies to those athletes.
4. MDOE will rescind or revise previous rules that allowed male athletes to compete in girls’ sports and clarify the federal law’s precedence over conflicting state laws.
These measures are designed to address and prevent further discrimination against female students in Maine’s public schools.