The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights announced on January 14, 2026, that it is investigating Regional School Unit 19 in Maine over allegations that allowing a transgender student to join a co-ed cheerleading team at Nokomis Regional Middle School discriminated against female students.
The federal investigation stems from a complaint filed in February 2025 that claims the Newport-area district violated Title IX by permitting a student assigned male at birth to participate on the cheerleading squad and use girls' bathrooms and locker rooms.
The investigation is one of 18 launched simultaneously across 10 states targeting educational institutions that allow students to participate in athletics based on gender identity rather than biological sex.
District's Response to Allegations
RSU 19 Superintendent Michael Hammer expressed surprise upon learning of the investigation, stating the district had no record of receiving any internal complaints about the cheerleading program, according to Erin in the Morning.
Hammer emphasized that the middle school cheer squad is co-ed, non-competitive, and does not cut any students who wish to participate.
"It is hard to understand how participation by any student, regardless of their gender or gender identity, would discriminate against any other student," Hammer wrote in a statement released on social media.
The Department of Education argues that policies allowing transgender students to compete based on gender identity jeopardize both safety and equal opportunities for women in educational programs and activities.
The announcement coincided with Supreme Court oral arguments in cases addressing transgender student athlete participation. Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine Richey stated that the administration would "leave no stone unturned" in investigating alleged violations of women's rights, K12 Dive reported.
Read more: New Zealand Government Bans Young Transgender Individuals From Accessing Puberty Blockers
Broader Context and Community Impact
The investigation has placed RSU 19's federal education funding at risk if the district is found to be out of compliance with Title IX. A Department of Education spokesperson explained that the nearly year-long delay in launching the investigation resulted from a backlog of approximately 20,000 cases left by the previous administration.
The complaint adds to ongoing tensions between federal Title IX enforcement and Maine state law, which protects against discrimination based on gender identity under the Maine Human Rights Act.
Superintendent Hammer noted the challenge of navigating conflicting requirements from multiple government agencies. The district has consulted legal counsel and stated it will cooperate with the investigation while maintaining confidence that it has not violated any laws, as per the Maine Wire.
Newport is a rural town of approximately 3,000 residents, and Nokomis Regional Middle School serves about 500 students in grades five through eight. According to Hammer, the student involved participated in the co-ed cheerleading squad during the previous school year but chose not to participate this year.
