United States President Donald Trump's administration has withheld millions of dollars in funding to various school districts in New York City, Chicago, and the DC area over transgender policies.
Government officials said that $5.8 million will be withheld from Chicago in the coming year under the Magnet Schools Assistance Program. They also noted that $17.5 million is being kept for the remaining years of the district's grants.
Withholding of Millions of Dollars of Funding
This will cause Chicago Public Schools to face an $8 million hole in its current $10.2 billion budget, some of which is carryover funds from last year. This comes as the federal government and CPS do not operate on the same fiscal calendar. Chicago's begins on July 1, while the federal government's starts on Oct. 1.
The latest funding cut comes as Chicago remains a target of the current administration over various policy issues. These include diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in public schools across the state, according to Chalkbeat.
Despite the Trump administration's latest efforts, CPS is continuing to forge ahead with a Black Student Success Plan that was rolled out in February, as well as a Black Student Achievement Committee mandated by Illinois law.
Additionally, the district is maintaining compliance with the Illinois Human Rights Act requirements. This gives transgender students access to bathrooms and locker rooms that correspond with their gender identity.
The withholding of the funding comes as the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights gave New York City Schools, Chicago Public Schools, and Fairfax County Public Schools until Tuesday to comply with adjustments to policies, CNN reported.
The DOE's acting assistant secretary for civil rights, Craig Trainor, said that the districts' practices violate Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education. Because the districts failed to comply within the given timeline, the administration made them ineligible for the grants.
Dispute Over Transgender Policies in Schools
DOE spokesperson Julie Hartman said that they will not "rubber-stamp civil rights compliance" for the affected districts. This is because they allegedly discriminate against students based on race and sex.
Despite the decision to withhold funding, New York City Public Schools maintains its policies are compliant with Title IX. In a statement, the school district said that they remain committed to giving every student safety, support, and affirmation, "regardless of their gender identity or expression."
On the other hand, the Fairfax County Public Schools superintendent said that her district "remains committed to providing a safe, supportive, and inclusive school environment." This would benefit all students and staff members, including the transgender and gender-expansive community, as per the New York Post.
