The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools (KCKPS), alleging the district violated federal laws by implementing policies that facilitate "secret gender transitions" for students without parental knowledge or consent. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon stated that this case is the "first of many" such actions the DOJ intends to pursue across the country.
The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, claims KCKPS violated the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). According to the DOJ, the district has utilized guidance since 2017 that allows students to request that their parents be excluded from meetings and that their transgender or gender non-conforming status not be disclosed to them. These internal plans can encompass accommodations related to names, pronouns, school records, restroom and locker room access, and participation in sports.
Dhillon asserted that these practices effectively locked parents out of crucial information regarding their children's well-being at school, directly contradicting the district's claims of compliance with federal law. "So I obviously completely reject that," Dhillon said in response to KCKPS' assertion that it adheres to federal statutes.
The DOJ argues that the written plans constitute education records under FERPA, and by excluding parents, the district hinders their ability to inspect and challenge these records. Furthermore, the government alleges that KCKPS violates PPRA by permitting students to engage in evaluations and meetings involving sensitive information without first obtaining written parental consent.
KCKPS has disputed the DOJ's allegations, stating in a news release that the district is in full compliance with FERPA and PPRA and expressed disappointment over the lawsuit. The district indicated it would respond through the federal court process and declined further comment while litigation is ongoing.
The Department of Education had previously opened a FERPA investigation into KCKPS in August 2025. The federal government informed the district on August 12 that its guidance appeared to violate FERPA and PPRA, and ultimately concluded that KCKPS would not voluntarily comply. The DOJ is seeking a federal court declaration that the district's practices are unlawful and an injunction to prevent the enforcement of such policies.
Dhillon emphasized that school districts nationwide are now on notice. "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," she stated. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas referred inquiries about the lawsuit to the DOJ’s Office of Public Affairs.