Trump administration launches probe into Portland school district over trans student competing in girls' track

Public school administrators in Portland, Oregon, are facing a federal civil rights probe over a transgender student-athlete's alleged participation in a girls' track and field meet last week, the U.S. Department of Education said Tuesday.

The department's Office of Civil Rights has opened an investigation into Portland's school district and the Oregon School Activities Association, a nonprofit that oversees high school sports statewide. Federal officials accused both the school district and the nonprofit of violating Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination and is used at times to challenge trans women and girls who compete on women's and girls' teams.

In this case, the civil rights office has alleged that Portland Public Schools and the activities association allowed a trans runner to compete in the girls' division of a March 19 interscholastic track and field competition, potentially undercutting Title IX as the runner took first place in two races. The office also said allowing the trans student to use the girls' locker room during the event may violate the statute.