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DOJ Orders Ann Arbor Schools to Reverse Transgender-Student Policy
By Drooid · · How we work
DOJ Demands Ann Arbor Schools Rescind Transgender Policy
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has instructed Ann Arbor Public Schools to rescind its “Policy 5011,” which governs the use of chosen names and pronouns for transgender and gender-nonconforming students and limits disclosure of a student’s transgender status to parents without the student’s consent. The DOJ argues the policy likely violates the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), both of which protect parental access to education records and personal information. The department gave the district a two-week deadline to comply, warning that non-compliance could trigger enforcement action, including loss of federal funding.
Background: Federal Scrutiny of School Gender Policies
The DOJ’s action follows a broader federal push, begun under the previous administration, to limit policies that conceal students’ gender identity from parents. Earlier in the summer, the U.S. Department of Education had asked Ann Arbor and two other Michigan districts to justify similar policies, citing concerns that they conflict with FERPA and PPRA. The district amended its policy in late August, but the DOJ says the changes were merely cosmetic.
Official Statements & Responses
The letter also warned that failure to act could result in litigation and the withholding of federal funds. Ann Arbor officials have not provided comment to date.
Verbatim Quotes
“Obviously if we were changing the substance of the policy, rather than just changing the wording and clarifying things, then I might have more of a problem,” — Torchio Feaster, schools board president
Next Steps
The district has 14 days from the DOJ’s mid-September letter to either withdraw Policy 5011 or issue a new version that satisfies federal privacy and parental-rights statutes. If the deadline passes without compliance, the DOJ indicated it may pursue legal action and could suspend federal funding to the district.