Three Kansas City-area school districts violated federal law, Department of Ed says

KANSAS CITY, Kan. (KCTV) – Three Kansas City-area school districts violated federal law according to the U.S. Department of Education. The department said to came to the conclusion after investigating claims for eight months.

The districts involved are:

• Olathe Public Schools
• Shawnee Mission Public Schools
• Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools

Topeka Public Schools was also found in violation of federal law.

The department said the investigation focuses on alleged Title IX violations and violations involving the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.

FERPA INVESTIGATION FINDINGS

The department said it opened the investigation in August after the Defense of Freedom Institute filed a complaint alleging the violations.

The investigation determined all four school districts have policies that likely prevent schools from notifying parents whether their children are using different pronouns, going by different names, or having different names printed on their diplomas.

The department of education said the policies violate parents’ rights under FERPA to access school records pertaining to their children.

TITLE IX INVESTIGATION FINDINGS

The Department’s Office for Civil Rights said it determined the Kansas City, Kansas, Public School District and Topeka Public Schools violated Title IX .

The investigation found the two districts have policies that allow male students to use female restrooms, locker rooms, and changing rooms, according to the department.

The findings went on to say the two districts have “single-sex athletics based on gender identity.”

In addition, the Office for Civil Rights reported that KCK schools denied investigators access to information during the inquiry.

The department also said its investigation determined that Olathe and Shawnee Mission School Districts violated Title IX with policies that allow students to use restrooms, locker rooms and changing rooms based on gender identity.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION DEMANDS

To remedy the violations the districts must take action, according to the Department’s Offices of Civil Rights and Student Privacy Policy.

According to information from the department, those actions must include, but are not limited to:

• The Districts will no longer allow students to participate in athletics based on “gender identity,” rather basing participation on the student’s sex; 
• The Districts will ensure that the use of bathrooms, locker rooms, changing rooms, and overnight accommodations is based on sex, not “gender identity;” and,  
• The Districts will inform school personnel that “gender support plans” and other related documents having to do with a student’s so-called ‘gender transition’ will be made readily available and accessible to parents and guardians.  

If any district involved cails to reach an agreement, the districts could lose federal funding, according to the Department of Education.

OLATHE RESPONDS

The Olathe School District responded to the notice Friday afternoon.

In a letter, the district said it has responded to all three issues involved in the investigation. It also points out that it has met with investigators over the claims for months.

The district says the claims, and investigators findings are not accurate.

“The three issues were not new to Olathe as the District was already in compliance with the law at the time of your 2025 letter. Olathe has confirmed that its staff were, and continue to be, in compliance with the law as they work with our students and families,” the district said in a letter.

Read the full letter to the Department of Education below:

KCTV5 asked Kansas City Kansas Public Schools and the Shawnee Mission School District for responses to the findings.

Their responses will be added to this article when they are received.