Delaware Valley School District Faces Deadline to Remove Trans Student Protections

MILFORD, Pa. — The Delaware Valley School District in Pike County is confronting a high-stakes decision after receiving a letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights that could reshape protections for LGBTQ+ students.

District officials say the federal government has moved to terminate a 2016 agreement with the Office for Civil Rights that mandates policies for the inclusion of transgender students. The letter requires the district to remove those policies by March 24 or risk losing federal Title IX funding.

The directive has raised urgent legal and ethical questions. Some community members argue that compliance could conflict with state law and put students at risk. Advocates are calling on residents to speak out ahead of a scheduled school board meeting Thursday.

Taylor James, executive director of Tri-Versity, Pike County’s Pride Center, said the district has options and urged officials to consider the consequences.

“The superintendent has confirmed that in the 10 years this agreement has been in place, there has not been one report of a transgender student causing problems using school facilities,” James said. “We’re talking about kids, and their safety and mental health are at stake.”

The 2016 agreement followed a lawsuit in which a transgender student was initially denied access to appropriate facilities. The Office for Civil Rights then required the district to ensure protection from bullying and guarantee access to facilities for students based on gender identity.

James said some school board members have pushed to remove these protections and have resisted diversity and equity initiatives. “Unfortunately, some members have made it their mission to eliminate these protections,” James said. “We want to educate the board and appeal to their common sense and hearts to ensure every student has a safe and equal education.”

The directive affects more than bathroom access. Advocates warn that it could jeopardize access to sports teams, chosen names, and pronoun respect, creating a potentially unsafe environment for LGBTQ+ students.

James said the district has sought legal advice but noted that organizations including the Education Law Center, the ACLU, and the Pennsylvania governor’s office have said the Office for Civil Rights does not create federal law and cannot override state protections.

Families and students in the district have expressed fear and heartbreak over the potential changes. “Most of our goal is to keep these kids alive and get them to adulthood where their life will be better,” James said.

The school board meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday and has been moved to the Delaware Valley High School Learning Commons to accommodate a large turnout.

Radio Catskill has reached out to the Delaware Valley School District for comment.

Image Credit: DVSD