Maine officials will not sign Title IX compliance agreement from Trump administration
Updated: 4:24 PM EDT Mar 27, 2025
FROM GREELY HIGH SCHOOL AND THE áMAINE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATIONá TODAY. CATE WHAT ARE THEY SAYING? THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, MAINE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION AND GREELY HIGH SCHOOL WERE GIVEN 10 DAYS TO COMPLY AFTER BEING FOUND IN VIOLATION OF TITLE IX….FOR ALLOWING TRANSGENDER ATHLETES TO COMPETE IN WOMENS SPORTS. TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO SIGN AN AGREEMENT AND COMPLY WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT….BUT SOME OF THESE INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT BACKING DOWN – AND ARE NOW RISKING A REFERRAL TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. BOTH GREELY HIGH SCHOOL AND THE PRINCIPALS ASSOCATION SAY THEY ARE BOUND TO THE MAINE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT – WHICH PREVENTS DISCRIMINATION BASED ON GENDER IDENTITY. THE MAINE PRINCIPALS ASSOCIATION EXPLAINING IN A STATEMENT – THEY CANNOT SIGN AN AGREEMENT THAT WOULD MANDATE A NEW POLICY AND THEREFORE VIOLATE STATE LAW. THE BOARD FOR MSAD 51 – WHICH INCLUDES GREELY HIGH SCHOOL – WILL ALSO NOT SIGN THE AGREEMENT…. SAYING THEY WILL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW STATE LAW AND THE MAINE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT. THE BOARD REFERENCED THE VALUES OF THEIR DISTRICT AS WELL – INCLUDING PROMOTING A SAFE, CARING AND ETHICAL LEARNING ENVIRONMENT…WHERE EVERYONE IS TREATED WITH RESPECT AND FAIRNESS. WE HAVE REACHED OUT SEVERAL TIMES TO THE MAINE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE – WHO IS REPRESENTING THE MAINE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION – TO SEE IF THEY PLAN TO SIGN THE AGREEMENT AND COMPLY WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION’S ORDER…. BUT A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS
Maine officials will not sign Title IX compliance agreement from Trump administration
Updated: 4:24 PM EDT Mar 27, 2025
Maine officials are refusing to sign a letter of compliance to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports, now risking a referral to the U.S. Department of Justice.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it would give the Maine Department of Education (MDOE), the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA), and Greely High School 10 days to comply, after finding each in violation of Title IX for allowing transgender student-athletes to compete in girls’ sports.In a letter to the Maine School Administrative District No. 51 community, which includes Greely High School, the MSAD 51 Board of Directors said the school district will not be signing the agreement sent by the federal government.”We are writing today to inform our community that MSAD #51 will not be agreeing to the proposed VRA sent to our district,” the Board of Directors said in the letter. “As stated during our Board meeting on March 6th, MSAD #51 will continue to follow state law and the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA). Compliance with the proposed VRA would be a violation of current Maine law.”The Maine Principals’ Association is also refusing to sign the agreement, referencing the state’s Human Rights Act. “The Maine Principals’ Association is bound by the law, including the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA), which our participation policy reflects,” a spokesperson for the MPA said in a statement. “We are unable to sign any resolution agreement that would mandate we create a new policy that would violate the law and MHRA. As such, we have not signed and will not sign the resolution agreement sent by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. With respect to the Federal Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, resolution agreement, we were not a direct recipient of that agreement, so we are not required to respond.”A spokesperson for the Maine Attorney General’s Office, which is representing the Maine Department of Education, said the office had “no update” as to whether the MDOE plans to sign the agreement and comply with the Trump administration. Related content:
PORTLAND, Maine —Maine officials are refusing to sign a letter of compliance to ban transgender athletes from competing in girls’ sports, now risking a referral to the U.S. Department of Justice.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it would give the Maine Department of Education (MDOE), the Maine Principals’ Association (MPA), and Greely High School 10 days to comply, after finding each in violation of Title IX for allowing transgender student-athletes to compete in girls’ sports.
In a letter to the Maine School Administrative District No. 51 community, which includes Greely High School, the MSAD 51 Board of Directors said the school district will not be signing the agreement sent by the federal government.
“We are writing today to inform our community that MSAD #51 will not be agreeing to the proposed VRA sent to our district,” the Board of Directors said in the letter. “As stated during our Board meeting on March 6th, MSAD #51 will continue to follow state law and the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA). Compliance with the proposed VRA would be a violation of current Maine law.”
The Maine Principals’ Association is also refusing to sign the agreement, referencing the state’s Human Rights Act.
“The Maine Principals’ Association is bound by the law, including the Maine Human Rights Act (MHRA), which our participation policy reflects,” a spokesperson for the MPA said in a statement. “We are unable to sign any resolution agreement that would mandate we create a new policy that would violate the law and MHRA. As such, we have not signed and will not sign the resolution agreement sent by the Federal Department of Health and Human Services. With respect to the Federal Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, resolution agreement, we were not a direct recipient of that agreement, so we are not required to respond.”
A spokesperson for the Maine Attorney General’s Office, which is representing the Maine Department of Education, said the office had “no update” as to whether the MDOE plans to sign the agreement and comply with the Trump administration.
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