The Maine Department of Education (MDOE), Maine Principals’ Association and Greely High School violated Title IX by allowing men to compete in women’s sports, two federal investigations concluded this week.
The institutions must agree to comply with federal rules by the end of the month or risk losing funding.
The Departments of Education (DOE) and Health and Human Services (HHS) distribute federal money to schools and education programs that comply with Title IX and other government rules.
On February 5, President Trump signed Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports, an executive order finding that allowing men to compete on women’s teams violates Title IX.
“Under Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, educational institutions receiving federal funds cannot deny women an equal opportunity to participate in sports,” the order reads, arguing:
Maine is one of four states publicly defying the order. On February 21, Maine Governor Janet Mills effectively told President Trump she would continue allowing men to compete in women’s sports until he took her to court.
The Civil Rights Offices at DOE and HHS launched Title IX compliance investigations into Maine schools that same day.
Investigators at HHS quickly stumbled on Greely High School, which won a women’s state track and field competition in February with a biological male’s help.
Formerly John Rydzewski, Katie Spencer took first in the women’s pole vault, beating the women who tied for second by a whopping six inches.
Had Spencer competed as a male, Outkick reports, he would have tied for 10th out of 13 competitors. When Spencer competed in the men’s pole vault at the same tournament just last year, he came in ninth.
Spencer’s contribution allowed Greely to win the overall competition, edging out Freeport High School by just one point. Both women who lost to Spencer in the pole vault were Freeport athletes.
Greely High School, the MDOE and the Maine Principals’ Association, which contributes money to interscholastic sports, must “resolve the matter through a signed agreement” by March 27 to avoid further action, HHS wrote in a press release Monday.
It’s unclear what that agreement includes.
DOE, which only investigated MDOE, has additionally ordered MDOE to sign six-point agreement to:
Direct all public schools to follow Title IX or risk losing funding.
Clarify that following Title IX means acknowledging there are only two sexes, segregating bathrooms and locker rooms based on sex and stopping boys from competing in girls’ sports.
Solicit a signed letter from every school certifying their compliance with Title IX and notify DOE of any violations.
Revise all rules and guidelines allowing men to join women’s teams.
Award appropriate accolades and trophies to female athletes that lost to men.
“Send a letter to [each] female athlete [whose record is restored] expressing an apology on behalf of the State of Maine for allowing her educational experience and participation in school sports to be marred by sex discrimination.”
MDOE must comply with this additional requirement by March 29.
None of the implicated organizations have responded to ED and HHS’ accusations.
Women deserve equal access to single-sex bathrooms, locker rooms and sports. After years of watching men violate these spaces and experiences with impunity, it’s a relief to watch the legislators and administrators that enable women’s oppression get their comeuppance.
Here’s to the further protection and vindication of women.
Additional Articles and Resources
Department of Education Launches Multiple Investigations Into Title IX Violations
Trump Signs Executive Order Protecting Women’s Sports and Spaces
Department of Education: Schools Embracing DEI Will Lose Funding
Don’t Let the Media Deceive You About Trump’s Order Protecting Female Athletes
Courts Defend Title IX from Department of Health and Human Services
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