Another FAFO Example: California Schools to Lose $1 Billion in Federal Funding Due to Gender Policies

California public schools chose to violate Title IX by allowing transgender athletes in girls’ sports and will thus lose $1 billion in federal funds for the coming school year.

Recall, Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that receives federal funding.

This from discernreport.com.

The estimated loss, based on previous years, was included in a California Department of Education statement on July 1 in which state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and other leaders alleged “egregious federal overreach” and demanded the money be restored.

Thurmond whined on June 30:

We’re told by [President Donald] Trump’s Department of Education that they are withholding critical school funding that isn’t in ‘accordance with the President’s priorities.’

Further:

The administration is punishing children when states refuse to cater to Trump’s political ideology. This illegal action will harm students starting now.

On June 25, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) concluded:

California’s policies permitting male athletes identifying as transgender to participate in girls’ sports discriminate against female athletes, violating Title IX.

The decision follows an investigation launched in February after the president issued an executive order to ban athletes who identify as transgender from competing in girls’ and women’s sports.

According to the OCR:

The California Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation were given 10 days to agree to change their policies to comply with Title IX or face consequences, including funding cuts.

The federal government said:

[T]he state actively prevented equality of opportunity and failed to protect female athletes from unfair competition and unsafe situations by allowing males in sports designed for women and in intimate spaces.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said in a statement on June 25:

The Trump Administration will relentlessly enforce Title IX protections for women and girls, and our findings today make clear that California has failed to adhere to its obligations under federal law.

Further:

The state must swiftly come into compliance

with Title IX or face the consequences that follow.

Also, the administration asked California to:

 – [N]otify schools to prohibit transgender athletes from joining girls’ athletic teams;

 – [R]e-assign awards, titles, or records to female athletes who were defeated by transgender-identifying competitors; and 

 – [Issue] apology letters to those female athletes.

Sonja Shaw, Chino Valley School Board president, said:

Trump’s actions are about enforcing Title IX.

Shaw told The Epoch Times in an email on July 1:

California’s education officials are gaslighting the public yet again—pretending to be victims after years of pushing radical agendas and failing our kids.

Further:

Let’s be clear: the Trump administration’s decision to freeze funds is a necessary course correction.

And:

You don’t get to violate federal law, attack families, and cry foul when you’re caught.

California’s AB 1266, which went into effect in 2013, allows students to participate in activities based on their gender identity.

Final thoughts: A course correction is needed in California. To begin, remove Gavin Newsom either by arresting him or recalling him. Then move down the totem pole. Also, all laws must be enforced, no exceptions and no favorites.