U.S. Department of Education opens probe into Westford Public Schools' transgender policy
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Summary
The U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation after a complaint from America First Legal alleging Westford Public Schools’ policy lets students use restrooms and locker rooms by self‑identified gender; the superintendent says the district is following Massachusetts law.
The U.S. Department of Education opened an investigation at the end of last month into Westford Public Schools' policy that allows students to use bathrooms and locker rooms according to their self‑identified gender, a complaint filed by America First Legal says.
America First Legal filed the complaint on behalf of a Westford parent, arguing the district's policy — implemented in March (year not specified in the report) — requires students who object to leave and prevents parents from changing the policy. Jean Hamilton, identified in the report as president of America First Legal, said the policy "silences and harms girls" and praised the DOE review as a defense of Title IX, the federal statute that prohibits sex‑based discrimination in education programs that receive federal funds.
The report cited a 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump directing federal agencies to ensure grant funds do not "promote gender ideology" and emphasizing protections for single‑sex spaces based on biological sex. The complainant and America First Legal also referenced a January 2025 federal court ruling that found prior Department of Education guidance expanding Title IX to include gender identity exceeded the agency's statutory authority, saying Westford could risk losing federal funding by not following that ruling.
In November, the local outlet Westford Cat spoke with Superintendent Christopher Chu about the district policy and whether it violated Title IX. Chu told Westford Cat that the district's policy for transgender and gender‑nonconforming students "is following Massachusetts state law," and said the district has been aligning its policies as federal guidance has shifted between administrations.
The Department of Education review is ongoing; the report did not include details on the investigation's scope or a timeline for completion. The complaint and related public commentary raised questions about the policy's treatment of single‑sex spaces and the district's process for addressing parental concerns.
Next steps: The DOE investigation will determine whether Westford Public Schools' policy complies with federal law; the report did not indicate when the agency expects to conclude its review.
