A South Carolina school district violated Title IX when an elementary school student was denied access to the girls’ bathroom based on that student’s gender identity, the Education Department’s Office said on Tuesday.
After the office’s finding, the Dorchester County school district decided on June 18 that it must allow the student access to the girls’ bathroom. The district must also revise its policies so that discrimination based on sex is included as a form of discrimination, and it must provide annual training to administrators explaining the school’s obligation “to prevent and address gender-based discrimination.”
The school is also giving the student and the student’s parents the option of convening a “support team” to ensure that the student has access to all school activities and is not discriminated against.
“I commend Dorchester County School District Two for committing to protect the civil rights of all students and ensuring that all students have equal access to education programs and activities,” said Catherine Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights.
Title IX is a measure that was adopted in 1972, and it applies to all federally funded education programs. In May, President Obama directed public schools to provide access for transgender students based on the students’ identified gender, or face cutbacks in federal funding.
