The U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division has launched an investgation into how some Illinois schools are teaching sex ed and whether they limit sports participation and bathroom use based on gender.
The investigation spans 36 preK-12 school districts including Freeport, Oregon, Meridian, Galena, Stockton and DeKalb.
According to a news release from the Department of Justice, the investigation focuses on whether the schools have notified parents of their right to opt their children out of instruction on the topics of sexual orientation and gender ideology and whether schools are limiting access to to bathrooms, locker rooms and sports teams based on biological sex.
“This Department of Justice is determined to put an end to local school authorities keeping parents in the dark about how sexuality and gender ideology are being pushed in classrooms,” Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division said in the release. “Supreme Court precedent leaves no doubt: parents have the fundamental right and primary authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. This includes exempting their children from ideological instruction that contradicts their values or decisions about their children’s health and best interests.”
No conclusions have been reached.
Anna Alvarado, superintendent of the Freeport School District and Martha Furst, president of the Freeport School Board, issued the following statement:
“At this time, we do not know why our district was selected for this review; however, we have learned that more than 30 other school districts across the state received the same notice. It is possible that a sample of Illinois school districts was selected. We are confident that our instructional and student practices are in full compliance with state and federal law, as well as applicable court precedents. We intend to cooperate fully with this inquiry and will provide updates to the community as appropriate.”
School districts under investigation include:
(This article was updated to include new information.)
Corina Curry is the editor of the Rockford Register Star.
This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: DOJ investigating Illinois schools on sex, gender in classroom, sports
Reporting by Corina Curry, Rockford Register Star / Rockford Register Star
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