DOJ Sues Maryland School District Over Secret Gender Transitioning

The U.S. Department of Justice is suing the Anne Arundel County Public Schools (AACPS) system, alleging the district illegally hides students’ gender transitions from their parents. In a lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court, the federal government claims the Maryland school board facilitates “secret transitioning” by soliciting and documenting gender-related information without parental consent, Courthouse News reported.

At its core, the DOJ argues that by concealing this information, the district is stripping parents of their fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children.

DOJ Alleges AACPS Violated Federal Privacy Laws

The Department of Justice’s complaint centers on two specific federal statutes: the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). According to the filing, AACPS policies direct staff to memorialize a student’s social transition in official education records while simultaneously obscuring that data from the parents.

Justice Department sues Anne Arundel County schools over transgender student policies

The government highlights a specific case involving a female student. The DOJ alleges the district called the student by a name that did not match her legal name or sex, having obtained this information and withheld it from her parents. When those parents attempted to access their daughter’s education records, school staff reportedly told them that some records required an appointment and others required a subpoena.

The lawsuit argues that this conduct is a direct violation of FERPA, which grants parents the right to inspect their children’s education records and prevent the unauthorized disclosure of identifying information. The government also claims the district violated the PPRA, which prohibits schools from requiring students to take surveys or evaluations that reveal sensitive information in protected categories without prior parental consent.

Justice Department sues Anne Arundel schools over gender-identity inclusivity policies

The Stakes of Parental Authority

The DOJ’s legal theory rests on the premise that children lack the maturity and responsibility of adults, making them more susceptible to outside pressures. By facilitating a transition in secret, the government argues the school district has overstepped its bounds.

“A school district’s decision to conceal information from parents and facilitate a degree of ‘gender transitioning’ likely violates parents’ fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children,” the government states in the complaint.

The federal government is now asking the court to force the district to end these policies. Beyond just stopping the secrecy, the DOJ wants the court to require AACPS to give parents the opportunity to correct or delete any data in their children’s records that is “inaccurate, misleading or otherwise inappropriate.”

DOJ sues Maryland school district over gender policy

School Board Officials Clash with Parental Rights Critics

The conflict reflects a deep ideological split. On one side, school officials often argue that such privacy measures are essential to protect transgender students from potential harm or rejection at home. On the other, critics—including many aligned with the platform of President Donald Trump—contend that these policies are an infringement on parental rights and may create safety risks for the broader student body.

Gloria Dent of the Anne Arundel County school board, expressed regret over the litigation during a phone call Tuesday night. While she noted the governing body planned to discuss the lawsuit at a Wednesday morning meeting, she maintained that the district’s actions are legal.