Trump Education Department investigates Michigan schools over trans-inclusive policies

The Trump administration has opened investigations into three Michigan school districts for allowing transgender children to participate in sports based on their gender identity. The move came a day after a similar action against a district in North Carolina.The Department of Education, under Education Secretary Linda McMahon, announced on Thursday that its Office for Civil Rights had opened investigations into Ann Arbor Public Schools, Monroe Public Schools and Chippewa Valley School District, alleging the districts had violated the rights of cisgender students by allowing transgender students to play on teams and use locker rooms corresponding to their gender identity rather than the sex they were assigned at birth.“The convoluted practice of allowing students to participate on sex-segregated athletic teams and make use of locker rooms based on ‘gender identity’ is not only known to be unsafe for students, but is a direct violation of federal law,” said Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary for civil rights at the Education Department.Related: Michigan's out AG warns hospitals not to cave to Trump's trans ban, calls decision likely 'illegal'“The Trump Administration has consistently upheld Title IX, as it was written and intended by Congress, enforcing the law to protect students across America from discrimination on the basis of sex rather than to perpetuate a radical ideology that risks the safety and wellbeing of students. We will continue to fight for what is right, fully investigate these alarming allegations, and enforce the law to the fullest extent.”Chippewa Valley officials told the Detroit Free Press the district would comply with any investigation but had not received official notice before the department sent a press release to the media."As a matter of practice, the district cooperates fully with any review conducted by the Office for Civil Rights," the statement said. "Chippewa Valley Schools remains committed to providing a safe, supporti