Education and Justice departments probe school districts over FERPA violations

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The Education and Justice Departments have opened FERPA investigations into Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland and Ann Arbor Public Schools in Michigan after allegations that staff concealed students' gender transitions from parents. The Education Department says administrators refused to provide records in at least one Maryland case, and that Ann Arbor maintains separate files for gender identity and a policy to help students hide transgender status. Ann Arbor must justify its policy to the Education Department by Aug. 11, 2026, and the probes could lead to withheld federal funding if violations are found.

Federal departments are investigating two districts for alleged FERPA violations