The U.S. Department of Education has officially removed the 2024 Title IX rule that would have expanded protections for LGBTQ+ students from sex‑based discrimination. The decision follows a series of court rulings that had already halted the rule’s implementation.
The rule, issued under the Biden administration, aimed to clarify that discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity constitutes a form of sex discrimination under Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex‑based discrimination in schools that receive federal funds.
Federal courts in multiple jurisdictions had previously blocked the rule, citing legal challenges that argued it exceeded the Department’s authority. The removal now formalises those judicial decisions, effectively taking the rule off the books.
Education officials said the action was taken to avoid further legal disputes and to comply with the court orders that had already prevented the rule from taking effect. The move does not alter existing Title IX provisions that already address gender‑based discrimination.
Advocates for LGBTQ+ students had welcomed the rule as a step toward greater inclusion, while opponents argued it would impose new regulatory burdens on schools. The Department’s decision marks the end of the brief period during which the rule was in effect only on paper.
<small>Source: K-12 Dive — read the original story there.</small>
