The Department of Education (ED) has issued a warning letter to a Colorado school district for not adequately protecting girls’ sports and spaces, according to a recent announcement by the school.
ED stated that the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has given Jefferson County Public Schools a 10-day notice to provide a “letter of imminent enforcement action” that would require the district to comply with Title IX. This law prevents sex-based discrimination in educational programs as a requirement for receiving federal funding.
Earlier in March, OCR completed its investigation of the district. The findings suggested that the school violated Title IX policies by allowing male students access to women’s restrooms, locker rooms, housing, and sports teams.
The OCR indicated that the district had a policy permitting students to access facilities based on their self-identified gender, rather than their biological sex. Reports indicated that male students occupied as many as 61 roster spots on women’s sports teams within the district.
ED noted that despite OCR providing a proposed resolution agreement to address the allegations, the district has taken no action to ensure the safety of women and girls. The warning letter highlighted that non-compliance with Title IX could eventually lead to loss of federal education funding, according to the department.
Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Ritchie commented, saying, “The school district has ignored women’s protections by allowing men into their sports and facilities, and now they refuse to correct their course even after being given a chance. This shows a lack of respect for the law and for the dignity and safety of women and girls. The district’s behavior is unacceptable.”
She further emphasized that school districts need to reinstate Title IX protections or face additional enforcement actions, especially as the administration honors June as Title IX Month. She stated that students should not endure mistreatment under extreme ideological policies that threaten their fundamental rights.
In June 2025, OCR had previously investigated the district after reports mentioned the removal of single-sex accommodations for school activities.
The proposed resolution by OCR aims for the district to adjust its gender identity policy to safeguard female students, publicly commit to adhering to biologically-based definitions of “male” and “female,” and enforce measures requiring facilities, sports participation, and housing to be based on biological sex.
Breitbart News reached out to Jefferson County Public Schools for a response but did not receive any comments by the publication deadline.
