Minnesota school districts face request for federal Title IX investigation

The Upper Midwest Law Center has requested that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights investigate 16 Minnesota public school districts. The legal advocacy group alleges that certain district policies regarding sexual identity, sports, and parental notification violate federal Title IX laws, the U.S. Constitution, and federal executive orders.

The complaint specifically targets policies that allow students to participate in sports, use restrooms, or share overnight accommodations based on their stated sexual identity. Additionally, the group claims several districts facilitate the social transition of students through name and pronoun changes without notifying or obtaining consent from parents.

Among the 16 districts named in the request are Rochester Public Schools, St. Paul Public Schools, Minneapolis Public Schools, and Rosemount-Apple Valley-Eagan Public Schools. The group also cited a February 2025 letter from Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison to the Minnesota State High School League as a central element of the matter.