Maine Schools Under Investigation for Hiding Kid’s Gender Dysphoria from Parents [WATCH]

The U.S. Department of Education (DoE) under President Donald Trump announced on Friday that it has launched an investigation into the Maine Department of Education (MDOE).

The investigation will examine whether MDOE is violating federal law by allowing schools to socially transition minors without informing their parents and by keeping records related to students’ gender identities secret, in apparent violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The DoE’s Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) is specifically investigating whether MDOE’s practices of allowing schools to create “gender plans” for students with transgender identities are in violation of FERPA.

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Under this federal law, parents are entitled to access their children’s educational records, including those that would pertain to their child’s gender identity.

The DoE’s investigation stems from reports that several school districts in Maine have adopted policies that allow teachers and administrators to develop plans supporting a student’s transgender identity, while claiming that these plans are not educational records and, therefore, cannot be shared with parents.

“Parents and guardians have the right to access their child’s education records to guide and safeguard their child’s mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Any policy to the contrary is both illegal and immoral,” said Education Secretary Linda McMahon in a statement regarding the investigation.

McMahon also noted that she had recently met with young people who shared their stories of “detransitioning,” highlighting the dangers of encouraging children to transition without parental knowledge or consent.

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“It is deeply concerning to hear that teachers and school counselors in Maine are reportedly encouraging and helping students to undergo so-called ‘gender transitions’ while keeping parents in the dark. The Trump Administration will enforce all federal laws to safeguard students and families,” McMahon added in her post on X.

It is deeply concerning to hear that teachers & school counselors in Maine are reportedly encouraging & helping students to undergo so-called ‘gender transitions’ while keeping parents in the dark.

We will enforce all federal laws to safeguard students & families. @nickineily pic.twitter.com/lVmqJtIzDo

— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) March 28, 2025

The investigation into Maine’s Department of Education is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to address complaints filed under FERPA that accumulated during the Biden-Harris administration.

The Biden-Harris administration had been a strong proponent of “gender affirmation” policies, including support for minors undergoing gender transition treatments, which critics argue can lead to irreversible harm.

Nicole Neily, Founder and President of Parents Defending Education (PDE), expressed support for the investigation, stating, “Under the previous Administration, we were fighting to protect our children from irreversible ‘sex changes’ – a path too often facilitated by school personnel who we entrusted with our children.”

Neily continued, “We are proud to stand with President Trump and Secretary McMahon to hold school districts accountable and ensure no child is socially transitioned behind parents’ backs by teachers or administrators.”

PDE’s research has highlighted the widespread nature of these policies, with a 2023 study finding that more than 1,000 school districts across the U.S. had policies allowing school personnel to keep a student’s transgender status hidden from their parents.

This includes 18,335 schools serving over 10 million students.

This investigation into Maine’s education system is not the first time the state has faced scrutiny over gender identity policies.

Just last week, the DoE’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) launched another investigation into MDOE for allowing transgender-identifying boys to compete in girls’ sports.

The OCR’s investigation was prompted by an incident in February when a transgender boy won the Maine Class B championship in girls’ track and field at Greely High School.

The boy had been allowed to compete on the girls’ team despite an executive order from President Trump prohibiting males from competing in female sports.

These investigations reflect ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to challenge policies it believes undermine parental rights and the safety of children in educational settings.

The results of these investigations may have broader implications for how schools across the country handle issues related to gender identity and parental consent.

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