Tumwater School District Faces Federal Investigation Over Trans Athlete Policy
The Tumwater School District (TSD) in Washington state is now under federal scrutiny following a widely publicized incident involving a female student who allegedly faced disciplinary action for refusing to participate in a basketball game against a transgender athlete. The U.S. Department of Education has initiated a Title IX investigation into the district, prompted by a civil rights complaint filed on behalf of Frances Staudt, a TSD student.
The case has ignited a firestorm of controversy, culminating in the school district’s recent decision to ban transgender athletes from participating in girls’ sports. This move directly contradicts current Washington state law, which mandates schools to ensure inclusivity for transgender students. The TSD’s decision positions them as one of the first school districts to openly defy state regulations in favor of adhering to President Donald Trump’s "No Men in Women’s Sports" executive order.
TSD board member Jill Adams expressed the dilemma faced by the board, stating, "A lot of us may disagree with the executive order, but us as school board members are caught between a rock and a hard place. I support different viewpoints, I support different ways of living, but it’s tough. I’m caught between, not a rock, but a boulder and a hard surface." The board members cited the Staudt incident and the ensuing national backlash as key factors influencing their decision to ban transgender athletes and align with the Trump administration’s directive.
Despite the district’s attempt to comply with the executive order, the Department of Education is proceeding with its investigation following the civil rights complaint. Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights, emphasized the department’s commitment to enforcing Title IX, stating, "OCR’s directed investigations of educational institutions, state boards of education, interscholastic associations, and school districts demonstrates that the Trump Education Department will vigorously enforce Title IX to ensure men stop competing in women’s sports. If Washington wants to continue to receive federal funds from the Department, it has to follow federal law."
The complaint alleges that the school district investigated Staudt, a 15-year-old, for "misgendering" an opponent and violating the district’s policies against bullying and harassment on February 7. The document details that prior to the game, Staudt inquired with the school’s principal and athletic director about whether the player was a biological male. The administrators allegedly confirmed that they had been notified that the player was transgender but denied Staudt’s requests to have the player removed from the game. In response, Staudt chose to remove herself from the game. The complaint further alleges that a TSD employee confronted Staudt’s younger brother for filming the game, making a statement perceived as intimidating.
The TSD released a statement addressing the forthcoming investigation, stating, "We take this matter seriously and are committed to working with OCR to address the concerns in the complaint. Our priority has always been to create a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment for all students, families, and staff. While we cannot discuss specific details due to confidentiality requirements, we take all concerns seriously and remain dedicated to continuous improvement in our schools."
Staudt and her mother, Aimee, have publicly shared their perspective on the situation, explaining how Staudt’s refusal to play against a biological male ignited controversy within the Tumwater School District. Aimee stated that the school district could have avoided the situation entirely if they had notified families beforehand and given players the option to sit out the game. "They [the school district] could have avoided this happening," Aimee told Steve Doocy. "They knew, admittedly, that there was going to be this situation, and they had a meeting, the principal, the superintendent, and the athletic director to discuss the fact that this was a potential situation that was coming up." She believes the lack of communication placed the children in an uncomfortable situation.
Meanwhile, the transgender athlete involved, Andi Rooks, addressed the issue alongside their father in an interview. Rooks stated, "I’ve never had an issue until this game, and my goal was never to make anybody uncomfortable in any way, and I didn’t even realize Frances had an issue until I got yelled at at the game. If she had had a conversation with me before the game, I would have sat out. My last thing I want to do is make anybody uncomfortable."
Washington is one of several states that has chosen not to comply with President Trump’s executive order. The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) policy dictates that each athlete participates in programs "consistent with their gender identity or the gender most consistently expressed," without imposing medical or legal requirements. While bills aimed at prohibiting transgender girls from participating in girls’ and women’s sports have been introduced in the state legislature, they have not been successfully passed into law.
Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal has voiced his support for transgender athletes participating in girls’ sports, asserting that it is "inaccurate" to claim there are only two genders. Reykdal argued that President Trump lacks the authority to ban transgender athletes in girls’ sports, although he conceded that the U.S. Congress does possess such power. He stated, "Until Congress changes the law or our state legislature changes the law, we’re going to follow the current law and the current civil rights framework of this state, and that’s what it tells us to do."
The Department of Education is also currently investigating high school athletic associations in California, Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Maine for their alleged defiance of President Trump’s executive order. This investigation into the Tumwater School District and other similar cases highlights the ongoing legal and social debate surrounding the participation of transgender athletes in sports, and the tension between federal and state regulations in this area. The outcome of these investigations could have significant implications for the future of transgender athlete policies nationwide.
