Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Policy Title Ix topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kennewick School Board files Title IX complaint against state agencies, seeks federal clarification
Summary
The Kennewick School District Board voted to file a formal Title IX complaint alleging conflicts between Washington state guidance and federal Title IX rules; the board said it wants federal direction to avoid putting district funding and student protections at risk.
The Kennewick School District Board of Directors voted to file a formal Title IX complaint against the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA), saying state guidance conflicts with federal Title IX requirements.
Board members voted to submit the complaint after a period of discussion and public comment. The motion passed in a roll call where one member recorded an abstention; the complaint asks federal authorities to review whether state guidance is inconsistent with Title IX and to provide enforcement direction to resolve the conflict.
The board cited public safety, fairness in athletics and classroom privacy as reasons for seeking federal review. In a brief public comment before the vote, Ben Anderson told the board: “I saw on the agenda that you guys are going to be addressing a Title IX issue … I encourage you to stay strong in this effort to protect the girls in our school system.”
Board members debated the legal and practical implications. Several directors described the situation as a conflict of laws that leaves districts unable to comply with both state and federal guidance simultaneously. Superintendent Dr. Pierce clarified to the meeting that "this letter does not change any current policy that we have on the books here, in Kennewick," and that the district was not altering local practice by filing the complaint.
Supporters of the complaint said a federal review would produce actionable direction within a defined time frame and would reduce legal risk for districts that rely on both state and federal funding. Opponents on the board urged caution about engaging in politicized processes, arguing the pathway to durable change runs through the Legislature and state-level advocacy.
The complaint requests that the U.S. Department of Education review OSPI and WIAA policies and provide written clarification on how local districts should apply Title IX when state guidance differs. The board also asked for federal assurance that compliance with federal guidance would not automatically trigger the loss of federal education funds.
The board recorded the formal motion to file the complaint and completed a roll-call vote. The district said it will deliver the complaint to appropriate federal offices and seek a timely federal determination so the district can operate under clear legal direction.
The filing does not alter current district policies or immediately change school practices; it asks only that the federal government review whether state-level directives are consistent with Title IX and, if not, to provide corrective direction.
