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5 northern Virginia school districts placed on ‘high-risk' status
Five northern Virginia school districts have been placed on "high-risk" status by the U.S. Department of Education over their bathroom and locker room policies, putting millions of federal dollars at stake.
SPRINGFIELD, Va. - Five northern Virginia school districts have been placed on "high-risk" status by the U.S. Department of Education over their bathroom and locker room policies, putting millions of federal dollars at stake.
Title IX dispute
According to FOX 5’s Maureen Umeh, the department says Alexandria City Public Schools, Arlington Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools, Loudoun County Public Schools, and Prince William County Public Schools violated Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in schools receiving federal funding. At issue are policies that allow students to use facilities based on their gender identity.
Federal officials gave the districts a choice to revise the policies or face tighter restrictions on funding. The deadline passed Friday, and all five districts declined to make changes, Umeh said.
READ MORE: Loudoun County students suspended amid boys' locker room Title IX probe
Funding at risk
As a result, the schools have been placed on both "high-risk" and "reimbursement" status. That means they must now cover expenses upfront and submit proof before receiving any federal fund, a shift that could impact programs like Title I and services for students with disabilities.
Fairfax and other districts say they’re complying with the law and have asked the federal government to hold off until the courts weigh in. For now, the new rules are in effect.
FOX 5 reached out to the districts for updated responses but has not heard back.
READ MORE: Fairfax County Public Schools Superintendent walks out for taped interview with FOX 5
Read the full release from the Department of Education online
The Source: Information in this article comes from the U.S. Department of Education and previous FOX 5 reporting.