DOJ Files Lawsuit Against Kansas City School District Over Alleged Violations of Parental Rights

<p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating additional school districts and considering further lawsuits regarding alleged violations of federal parental rights laws, according to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, who spoke to Fox News Digital on Tuesday. The DOJ's recently filed lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is described as the "first-of-its-kind" and is expected to be the first of many.</p><p>The lawsuit alleges that KCKPS violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) by implementing a policy that allows for "secret gender transitions" for students without parental knowledge or consent.</p><p>Dhillon stated, "No, we're not waiting. What we do is we ask for documents, we investigate and then we try to resolve cases with school districts. And if we cannot, then we file lawsuits. And, so, there are many other lawsuits contemplated here and other investigations that are ongoing." She did not disclose the names of other districts under investigation.</p><p>The lawsuit focuses on internal guidance for transgender and gender non-conforming students, which the DOJ claims has been in effect since 2017. The guidance allows students to request that their parents be excluded from school planning meetings and that their gender identity not be disclosed to their parents. Written plans resulting from these meetings can include details on names, pronouns, school records, restroom and locker room use, sports participation, and other accommodations.</p><p>In response to KCKPS's assertion that it complies with federal law, Dhillon stated, "Well, I think you can get that from the complaint, but they had secret gender transition plans that locked parents out of knowing what was being asked of their children. So, I obviously completely reject that." KCKPS has publicly disputed the DOJ's allegations, asserting its compliance with FERPA and PPRA and expressing disappointment over the lawsuit.</p><p>The district indicated it would respond through the federal court process and would refrain from further comments while litigation is ongoing.</p><p>The DOJ contends that the written plans are considered education records under FERPA and that excluding parents from these discussions prevents them from exercising their rights to inspect and challenge those records. Additionally, the government claims that the district violates PPRA by allowing students to engage in meetings and evaluations that may disclose sensitive information without prior written parental consent.</p><p>The Department of Education initiated a FERPA investigation into KCKPS in August 2025. The federal government informed the district on August 12 that its guidance was in violation of FERPA and PPRA, ultimately determining that KCKPS would not comply voluntarily.</p><p>The DOJ seeks a federal court ruling to declare the district's practices unlawful and to prohibit the enforcement of the guidance or similar policies that violate FERPA or PPRA.</p><p>Dhillon emphasized the DOJ's intention to pursue potential violations in other districts, stating, "But I want there to be a very clear message to every school district in the United States. They are on notice that if they violate FERPA and PPRA, the United States Department of Justice stands ready to protect the rights of parents and the rights to pupils to privacy, dignity and parental rights in determining how children are educated in the United States."</p><p>The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas referred inquiries regarding the lawsuit to the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs.</p>