A Maine school district and the Maine Principals’ Association will not sign an agreement with the federal government saying they violated federal law by allowing transgender girls to play girls’ sports.
On March 17, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave the Maine Department of Education, Greely High School in Cumberland and the Maine Principals’ Association 10 days to voluntarily sign the agreement saying that they violated Title IX by allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports. That came after HHS found the parties in violation of the landmark 1972 law that bars sex-based discrimination in schools.
Maine School Administrative District 51, of which Greely High School is a part of, and the MPA will not sign the letters, the organizations said. Officials with both organizations said they will continue to follow Maine state law and the Maine Human Rights Act.
The Maine Department of Education was also asked to sign the agreement. The department has deferred to the Office of the Maine Attorney General, which declined to comment, spokesperson Danna Hayes said.
It’s unclear what happens if all parties refuse to sign the agreement by the 10-day deadline, which expires Thursday. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has threatened to sue Maine if the state does not comply with the Trump administration around transgender girls competing in girls’ sports.
The agreement required the MPA to reverse its policy allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports and for Greely to only field teams in compliance with that policy. Maine would also have to give back federal funding, including $99,940 that the state received from the Centers for Disease Control and $87,000 from the Administration for Children and Families.
“The MSAD #51 Board of Directors is guided by the Mission, Vision, and Core Values of our district,” the district said in a letter Wednesday. “This includes promoting a safe, caring and ethical learning environment where each person will be treated with respect and fairness; and individuals are recognized, valued and supported.”
The MPA will not sign an agreement that will mandate the creation of a new policy and force it to violate Maine’s human rights act, MPA spokesperson Jared Bornstein said.
The MPA had previously argued that HHS does not have the jurisdiction to investigate the association because it does not receive federal funding.
The school district thanked students for their maturity and dedication to learning despite all of the distractions, as well as thanking staff for “unwavering commitment” to students, the letter said.
The HHS investigation followed a heated exchange between President Donald Trump and Gov. Janet Mills in February during an event for governors at the White House over Maine allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports. It happened after a social media post by Maine Rep. Laurel Libby, R-Auburn, where she singled out a transgender athlete at Greely High School, gained nationwide attention.
Trump signed an executive order shortly after his inauguration in which he said he would withhold federal funds if educational programs allow transgender girls and women to compete in girls’ and women’s sports.
There are five other federal agencies investigating or targeting Maine over Title IX.
There are only two transgender athletes competing in Maine, the MPA said.