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RSU 5 board votes to revert Title IX–related policies after federal rules vacated
Summary
The RSU 5 board voted to revert five district policies to their pre‑October 2024 versions after a federal court vacated the Biden‑era Title IX rules; the board said it will seek legal guidance on whether and how to restore protections beyond current federal requirements.
The RSU 5 Board of Directors voted Wednesday to revert five district policies to the versions in place before October 2024 after a federal court vacated the Biden‑era Title IX regulations.
The reversion affects AC (nondiscrimination/equal opportunity), ACAA (harassment of students), ACAAR (student complaint procedures), ACAB (harassment of employees) and ACABR (employee complaint procedures). Policy committee chair Colin told the board the move is necessary to keep district policies aligned with current federal law.
The board and administration stressed that the reversion is a legal compliance step, not a policy judgment about student protections. "We cannot have policies that state Title IX covers certain things it no longer does," Colin told the board, arguing the district must not list federal requirements that no longer exist. The board asked legal counsel to advise on whether RSU 5 can, consistent with state and federal law, create local policies that restore or expand protections that the vacated federal rules had provided.
Why it mattered: A federal court ruling on Jan. 9, 2025 vacated the 2024 Title IX rule set, returning schools to the 2020 regulatory regime in many respects. That change narrowed several obligations for schools under federal Title IX rules — including timelines, hearing procedures and some definitions of prohibited conduct — and expires certain federal procedural protections introduced in 2024. Colin said the board’s immediate duty was to ensure district policy documents do not incorrectly cite federal requirements that no longer exist.
Board action and next steps: The motion to revert the five policies was made by Colin and seconded by board member Beth; the motion passed. The board directed district legal counsel to advise on options for locally reestablishing protections — where permitted by state law — and requested the policy committee and administration return with proposed language and legal analysis for consideration.
What remains in place: The district’s policy specifically addressing transgender and gender‑expansive students (ACAAA), adopted in October 2023, was not changed by the vote and remains on the books. Administration and speakers reminded the board that the Maine Human Rights Act continues to prohibit discrimination on the basis of gender identity and remains an authoritative state requirement for districts in Maine.
Board members said they will pursue follow‑up work and legal review before proposing any local policies intended to re‑create protections that are no longer specified by the federal Title IX regulations. The board also asked administration to prepare a clear, public communication explaining the legal change and reaffirming the district’s ongoing commitments to student safety and civil rights.
