The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has announced it is investigating Vancouver Public Schools for permitting transgender students to compete in school sports.

VPS is one of 18 educational entities, which include colleges and state departments of education, under investigation for alleged Title IX violations as of Jan. 14.

In a statement to OPB, VPS spokesperson Jessica Roberts said they received notice of the investigation Wednesday.

“We are reviewing the allegations, but are unable to provide further comment while the investigation is pending,” Roberts wrote.

According to a statement from the U.S. Department of Education, the group of K-12 school districts, postsecondary education institutions, and state departments of education, “maintain policies or practices that discriminate on the basis of sex by permitting students to participate in sports based on their ‘gender identity,’ not biological sex.”

Those policies put the safety and equal opportunities of women in educational programs and activities at risk, the office argues.

The rollout of the investigations is happening as the Supreme Court hears oral arguments in two cases involving state laws banning transgender girls and women from competing in sports at publicly funded schools.

This new set of investigations adds to ongoing Title IX investigations into Portland Public Schools and the Oregon Department of Education initiated last year. In March, the federal government opened an investigation into PPS and the Oregon School Activities Association after a transgender high school athlete won first place in a Portland meet.

The investigation into ODE started in July and more broadly relates to allegations that the state department of education and the OSAA allowed transgender females to compete in women’s sports.

The U.S. Department of Education did not respond to requests for comment on the status of those investigations.

Federal funds these institutions receive could be cut if they are found in violation of Title IX.

A spokesperson for Cheney Public Schools told KUOW in an emailed response that they are aware of the investigation, and the district does plan to cooperate.

Noel Gasca is a reporter with KUOW. This story comes to you from the Northwest News Network, a collaboration between public media organizations in Oregon and Washington.

This story is part of OPB’s broader effort to ensure that everyone in our region has access to quality journalism that informs, entertains and enriches their lives. To learn more, visit opb.org/partnerships.

News Source : https://www.opb.org/article/2026/01/15/vancouver-schools-trans-atheletes-federal-investigation/