District Claims 61 Boys on Girls’ Sports Rosters Weren’t Athletes
Jeffco Public Schools has clarified that the 61 boys cited by the federal education department as being on girls’ sports rosters were actually male managers, trainers, or mascots, not athletes. The district asserts that the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights never sought clarification on these roles, leading to a factual error in their press release. Jeffco has repeatedly asked the OCR to correct this information but has been refused, while also facing pressure from the federal government regarding other district policies concerning transgender students. This situation places Jeffco in a difficult position, navigating conflicting state and federal interpretations of anti-discrimination laws.
John Q. Hosedrinker