The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has called for an investigation on Frisco ISD and Keller ISD over newly implemented policies that the ACLU characterizes as discriminatory against transgender students and a violation of their civil rights.
Frisco ISD passed a policy Nov. 14 — notably, during Transgender Awareness Week — requiring students to use the bathroom that aligns with their assigned gender at birth, with accommodations being made available for students who would like to use a private restroom that aligns with their gender identity. The ACLU filed a complaint against the North Texas school district and wants the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to investigate. In a letter, the ACLU called Frisco ISD’s new policy “deeply invasive and unlawful,” adding that it “[interrogates] students’ private medical information.”
Additionally, the ACLU wants to investigate another North Texas school district that recently passed a ban on books featuring non-binary and transgender people. Earlier this year, Keller ISD added three new conservative school board members, all of whom received large donations from big-money donors and an extremist Christian PAC. These new board members campaigned on banning books with LGBTQIA+ storylines, as well as some perceived to discuss critical race theory, which is not taught in K-12 schools.
The ACLU claims both North Texas school districts are violating Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.
The ongoing fights within school districts come amid a continuing attempt by state leaders to censor classroom discussion and target vulnerable and marginalized groups. Earlier this week, Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted a link to a Fox News story about a Fort Worth teacher who, reportedly, came out to their middle school students as non-binary in class. In his tweet, the governor called the teacher’s alleged action as “indoctrination,” and he vowed the Legislature would “put a stop to it.”
Texas AFT President Zeph Capo did not mince words in his response.
“Greg Abbott has underfunded our schools and made them less safe,” Capo said. “And he makes them even more dangerous for teachers and their LGBTQIA+ students when he uses his platform to spread this hurtful nonsense.”