U.S. Education Department Halts LGBTQ+ Student Data Collection

The U.S. Department of Education announced that the 2025‑26 Civil Rights Data Collection survey will no longer require schools to report on LGBTQ+ student populations. The revision removes questions about the number of nonbinary students, the frequency of bullying and harassment they experience, and whether districts have policies addressing these issues. It also strips the term “gender identity” from the definition of rape and sexual assault, changing the language to state that “all students, regardless of sex, or sexual orientation can be victims of rape.”

The changes, approved by the Office of Management and Budget in July, end a data‑gathering practice that began under the Biden administration and was used to monitor discrimination complaints, guide compliance reviews, and inform policy guidance. Critics warn the cut will limit the ability to track and address discrimination against LGBTQ+ youth in schools.