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

<p>The Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating other school districts and considering additional lawsuits regarding alleged violations of federal parental rights laws, according to Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. She stated that the DOJ's newly filed case against Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS) is the "first of many." </p><p>The DOJ filed a lawsuit against KCKPS on September 1, 2026, alleging that the district 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 explained that the DOJ does not wait for cases to conclude before pursuing other investigations, indicating that there are multiple lawsuits being contemplated. She did not disclose the names of other districts under investigation to avoid prejudging the outcomes.</p><p>The lawsuit centers on internal guidance for transgender and gender non-conforming students, which the DOJ claims has been in use 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. The resulting plans can include details about names, pronouns, school records, restroom and locker room use, sports, and other accommodations.</p><p>In response to KCKPS’s assertion of compliance with federal law, Dhillon rejected the district’s position, stating that the district had secret plans that prevented parents from knowing what was being asked of their children.</p><p>KCKPS disputed the DOJ’s allegations, asserting in a news release that it is in full compliance with FERPA and PPRA and expressing disappointment over the lawsuit. The district plans to respond through the federal court process and will not comment further while litigation is ongoing.</p><p>The DOJ argues that the written plans constitute education records under FERPA and that excluding parents from knowledge of these records prevents them from exercising their rights. Additionally, the government alleges that the district violates PPRA by allowing students to participate in meetings that can reveal sensitive information without prior written parental consent.</p><p>The Department of Education initiated a FERPA investigation into KCKPS in August 2025, advising the district that its guidance violated federal laws. The complaint states that KCKPS ultimately did not voluntarily comply with the government's recommendations.</p><p>The DOJ is seeking a federal court declaration that the district’s practices are unlawful and aims to prohibit the enforcement of any similar policies that violate FERPA or PPRA. Dhillon emphasized that the DOJ intends to pursue potential violations in other districts, stating that all school districts in the United States are on notice regarding compliance with parental rights laws.</p><p>The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas referred questions about the lawsuit to the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs.</p>