5 Northern Virginia school districts placed on high-risk status after not changing bathroom policies

FiveNorthernVirginiaschooldivisionsthatrefusedtochangetheirgenderpoliciesovertheuseofbathroomsandlockerroomshavebeenplacedon“high-riskstatus”bytheU.S.DepartmentofEducationandwillhavetheirfederalreimbursementrequestsscrutinized. Inanewsrelease,thefederalagencysaidtheschooldistrictswillbeplacedon“reimbursementstatus”forfunding,includingformulafunding,discretionarygrantsandimpactaidgrants.SchoolsinLoudoun,Fairfax,PrinceWilliamandArlingtoncountiesandtheCityofAlexandriawillhavetopayupfrontandthenrequestreimbursement,thedepartmentsaid. Theannouncementcomesdaysafterthedistrictsallannouncedtheywouldn’tmakechangestotheirpoliciesforintimatefacilities,suchasrestroomsandlockerrooms.TheEducationDepartmentrequestedtheydoso,sayingpoliciesthatallowstudentstousebathroomsbasedongenderidentityratherthanbiologicalsexviolatedTitleIX. Thedivisions,however,saidtheircurrentpracticesareincompliancewiththelaw