The Trump administration’s Department of Education announced Tuesday that it was launching investigations into two school districts over separate allegations involving student activities and displays. The Bethel School District near Seattle faced scrutiny over vials of testosterone that were displayed at Graham-Kapowsin High School in June as part of a school exhibit. The district stated that school administrators had not authorized the display and that the vials were removed immediately and turned over to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.
Simultaneously, the department is examining Denver Public Schools regarding claims that a high school teacher required students of the same sex to kiss in front of the class. The Education Department indicated it was investigating whether either district violated federal law granting parents the right to opt out of school evaluations covering topics related to sex behavior or attitudes. A spokesperson for the Bethel School District said it would fully cooperate with the investigation and indicated it is reviewing internal protocols for overseeing school displays.
The department framed the probes as part of enforcing parental rights laws, with officials emphasizing that parents should be primary decision-makers regarding matters affecting their children’s lives. Both districts are located in states governed by Democrats, while the investigations are being conducted under a Republican administration. The Education Department indicated it plans to announce additional enforcement actions throughout the week in connection with National Parents’ Day.
This represents part of a broader pattern in which Trump administration officials have opened dozens of investigations into schools regarding accommodations for transgender and LGBTQ+ students. Previous actions have targeted districts permitting students to use facilities aligned with their gender identities and those maintaining confidentiality regarding students’ gender identities from parents, which the department contends violates federal privacy protections.
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