Kansas attorney general kris kobach is asking the U. S. Department of Education’s office for civil rights to investigate several Kansas school districts. According to a press release issued by Kobach Tuesday, June 24th, he is requesting the DOE to investigate four Kansas school districts for allegedly failing to comply with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, known as FERPA. Kansas City USD 500, Olathe USD 223, Shawnee Mission USD 512, and Topeka USD 501 are mentioned.
A letter sent to Education Secretary Linda McMahan says that the schools have policies that allow or require teachers to conceal from parents information concerning the “social transitioning” of their children, which Kobach called shockingly irresponsible. He stated that the Kansas City, Shawnee Mission, and Topeka districts maintain policies that force students to share bathrooms, locker rooms, and other intimate spaces based on a student’s proclaimed gender identity. Kobach says in December of 2023, he sent letters to six Kansas school boards urging them to reconsider such policies. Two districts revised or rescinded their policies. The other four, KCK, Olathe, Shawnee Mission, and Topeka, refused.
