The Upper Midwest Law Center has asked the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to investigate 16 Minnesota public school districts over sexual identity policies UMLC argues violate Title IX, the U.S. Constitution, and federal Executive Orders. UMLC has also sent letters to the 16 districts and the Minnesota State High School League (“MSHSL”) informing them of their likely legal violations on the same issues.
The letters target policies that UMLC says allow boys to participate in girls’ sports, use girls’ restrooms and locker rooms, and share overnight accommodations with girls based on their stated sexual identity preference. UMLC also argues that several districts allow or require schools to socially transition students through name and pronoun changes without parental notice or consent.
“These districts are violating federal law, ignoring recent Supreme Court guidance, and sidelining parents from decisions involving their own children,” said Brent Robbins, Senior Counsel for Religious Liberty at the Upper Midwest Law Center. “Title IX protects women and girls. The Constitution protects parents’ rights. Minnesota school districts do not get to erase those protections through internal policies, and the federal government should act.”
The letter names the following districts:
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St. Paul Public Schools
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Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools
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Minneapolis Public Schools
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Anoka-Hennepin School District
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Osseo Area Schools
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Rochester Public Schools
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Robbinsdale Public Schools
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North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District
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Bloomington Public Schools
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Duluth Public Schools
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White Bear Lake Area School District
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Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School District
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Moorhead Area Public Schools
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Hopkins Public Schools
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Richfield Public Schools
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St. Louis Park Public Schools
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison’s February 2025 letter to the Minnesota State High School League is also central to UMLC’s request. In that letter, Ellison directed MSHSL to continue allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports despite federal executive orders. According to UMLC, that position is contrary to federal law, has created confusion for school districts, and makes federal enforcement action more urgent.
“Boys are boys, and girls are girls, no matter what Attorney General Ellison or some school districts say. By ignoring biological reality and the law, these districts are endangering vulnerable children by allowing boys to use girls’ private facilities. They are also denying girls opportunities in sports, and putting them at risk of physical harm,” said Doug Seaton, President of the Upper Midwest Law Center.
The OCR letter asks OCR to open investigations and take enforcement action, if necessary, to bring the districts into compliance with Title IX, the Constitution, and applicable federal law. The school district and MSHSL letters inform them of the OCR letter, explains their potential liability under state and federal law, and encourages them change their policies.
The letters to the Department of Education, the school districts, and MSHSL are available here.