News

Maine Education Department Found in Violation By 2nd Federal Agency

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


The  U.S. Department of Education is informing its Maine counterpart that it’s in violation of federal law by allowing transgender athletes to compete in girls’ sports.

The federal agency sent a letter Wednesday, notifying Maine’s Department of Education it’s violating Title IX, which prohibits discrimination based on sex.

The U.S. Department, under the Trump administration, first announced an investigation of Maine’s transgender sports policy on February 21st.

It’s now giving the Maine Education Department 10 days to comply with Title IV  or risk legal action through the U.S. Department of Justice and the loss of federal funding.

“The outcome of OCR’s investigation of MDOE confirms that it has violated federal antidiscrimination law by allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports and boys to occupy girls’ intimate facilities,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Craig Trainor in a statement“If Maine does not swiftly and completely come into compliance with Title IX, we will initiate the process to limit MDOE’s access to federal funding.”

Maine currently receives more than $280 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education.

The Wednesday announcement from the U.S. Education Department came two days after the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), a separate agency, expanded its notice of violation of Title IX from the Maine Department of Education to include both the Maine Principals’ Association, the state organization that governs high school athletics, and Greely High School in Cumberland, where a transgender athlete recently won a girls sports event.

The HHS announcement also gave the Maine entities 10 days to fall in compliance.

Meanwhile, the Maine Principals’ Association is challenging its inclusion in the HHS claim that it’s violating Title IV.

An attorney for the Association sent a letter Wednesday to HHS, which pointed out that it does not receive any federal funding, and therefore, is not required to comply with Title IV.

The letter says the HHS must dismiss its compliance review of the Principals’ Association because it lacks jurisdiction.

The Trump administration has been targeting Maine for its transgender sports policy since a White House meeting in February that included a heated conversation between President Donald Trump and Governor Janet Mills.

Latest Headlines

8 hours ago in Entertainment

A movie that takes liberties with ‘Wuthering Heights’? Scholars are OK with that

If you're looking for someone to debate the new "Wuthering Heights" movie with, you might want to start with Lucasta Miller. She's a British author, editor and critic who has published an acclaimed study of the Brontë sisters and wrote the preface for the Penguin Classics edition of "Wuthering Heights."

14 hours ago in Entertainment

Logan Paul’s Pikachu Illustrator Pokémon card sells for record $16.5M at auction

Logan Paul has set a new world's record — for the auction price of a trading card. The wrestling and social media star's rare Pickachu Illustrator Pokémon card, a "Holy Grail" for collectors, sold for $16.5 million Monday at Goldin Auctions after 41 days of bidding.

14 hours ago in Entertainment

Actor Shia LaBeouf arrested after alleged fight during Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Actor Shia LaBeouf has been arrested after being accused of hitting two men early Tuesday morning during Mardi Gras celebrations in New Orleans, police said. LaBeouf was charged with two counts of simple battery, New Orleans police said in a statement.

15 hours ago in Entertainment

Late-night host Stephen Colbert isn’t backing down from public dispute with CBS bosses

Stephen Colbert isn't backing down in an extraordinary public dispute with his bosses at CBS over what he can air on his late-night talk show.

15 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

A rare Paul McCartney and Wings trove heads to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this summer

A collection of Paul McCartney instruments, outfits, handwritten lyrics, unseen photos and tour memorabilia will be part of an exhibit at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this summer, billed as the first major museum show to feature McCartney and Wings.