U.S. Department of Education Issues Warning to Jefferson County Public Schools Over Title IX Violations

<p>The U.S. Department of Education (ED) sent a warning letter to Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado on June 3, 2026, after determining that the school district may have placed up to 61 male students on girls' sports teams. The letter states that the district has 10 days to resolve the issue with ED or face potential enforcement action, including the risk of losing federal education funding.</p><p>Kimberly Richey, ED's Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, stated that the district has violated Title IX protections by allowing males to compete in girls' sports and access female-only facilities. The investigation by ED's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) began in June 2025, focusing on allegations that the district had removed safeguards for single-sex overnight accommodations on district-sponsored trips.</p><p>Title IX, enacted in 1972, prohibits discrimination based on sex in educational programs or activities that receive federal funding. The Department of Education has reached out to Jefferson County Public Schools for a response.</p>