Anne Arundel County Schools face federal enforcement after officials accused the Maryland district of withholding student gender identity records from parents. The dispute concerns parental access under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, reports the Baltimore Chronicle.
Federal agencies allege FERPA violations
The US Department of Education announced the action on July 27, 2026. Its Student Privacy Policy Office is working with the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.
Federal officials said parents discovered the situation through an email using male pronouns for their daughter. According to the government, administrators later refused to provide details or release relevant records.
The agencies say the district improperly treated gender identity information as confidential medical information. They argue this classification restricted parental access protected by FERPA.
The possible federal response includes:
- enforcement proceedings against the school district;
- litigation seeking compliance with FERPA;
- possible termination of federal education funding.
The Education Department has not announced an immediate funding cut. Such sanctions could follow if investigators determine the district failed to substantially comply with federal law.
What Anne Arundel County policy allows
AACPS guidance permits students to use names and pronouns corresponding with their gender identity. A legal name change or court order is not required for everyday school interactions.
The policy uses different language depending on the student’s age and circumstances.
| Policy area | Stated approach |
|---|---|
| High school students | Parent notification is considered individually with the student |
| Younger students | Staff may approach parents when the issue creates difficulties at school |
| Student records | Gender identity information may be treated as confidential |
| Preferred names | Staff may record them in the student information system |
The central dispute is not simply whether schools may use preferred pronouns. It concerns whether related records can be withheld when parents formally request access.
Parents’ lawsuit adds another legal challenge
The parents filed a federal lawsuit earlier in July. They allege school employees used a masculine name and pronouns without their knowledge or consent. The district had not publicly responded when WTOP reported the case.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon called the alleged concealment incompatible with federal parental rights. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said districts attempting to bypass FERPA should expect federal action.
The case follows a March 2, 2026 Supreme Court order affecting California student privacy rules. The justices reinstated an injunction while that litigation continues, rather than issuing a final nationwide judgment on every school disclosure policy.
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