LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – At least four school districts in Michigan have failed to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order protecting Title IX and the rights of girls in sports, locker rooms, and bathrooms. Now, some parents are pushing back against those schools who’ve failed to change their policies in accordance with federal law.

What is Title IX?

Title IX has been the federal law of the land since 1972. According to the U.S. Department of Education, Title IX “prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.” In other words, it advocates for the rights of girls and women in the classroom and in sports. It also protects girls and women from “sex-based harassment, sexual violence, and pregnancy discrimination.”

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Title IX remained a law in good standing until President Joe Biden came into office. He upended Title IX with a 2024 executive order. In addition, a 2023 Biden-era rule allowed men who identified as women to compete in women’s sports. The courts struck that rule down.

Last month, President Donald Trump abolished Biden’s rules with a new executive order, saying any entity who allowed boys to participate in girls sports would lose federal funding.

An unusual hill to die on.

So far in Michigan, the districts choosing to die on the hill of allowing boys in girls sports at the risk of losing federal funding are Mt. Pleasant, Plymouth-Canton, Rochester, and Hartland. Matthew Wilk, the President of “Get Kids Back to School,” told Michigan News Source his organization is identifying whether school districts have Title IX policies and if those policies line up with federal law. If they do not, a complaint is filed with the Office for Civil Rights. 

“This is about protecting girls’ rights, not trans’ rights,” Wilk said.

Wilk also appeared on The Steve Gruber Show on Monday morning saying Title IX is in effect and able to be enforced. “Title IX says you must protect the rights of young women and that doesn’t change when a boy with gender dysphoria shows up at the schoolhouse door,” Wilk said.

One parent reflected similar sentiments at a Rochester School Board meeting last week. “I personally have addressed this board many times on the subject including the Title IX coordinator who sent our families’ letter to the attorneys to respond with the district’s position which was silence.”

The Michigan Department of Education’s “far left” stance.

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Wilk blasted Michigan State Board of Education as “far left,” referring to a memo sent out in response to President Trump’s executive order on Feb. 13, 2025. The memo, penned by State Superintendent Michael Rice, ignored girls and focused on LGBTQ+ students instead. “All children—no exceptions—deserve safe, welcoming schools,” Rice wrote. “All means all, including LGBTQ+ students.”

The memo also incorrectly cited that the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, identity, and expression, is the law by which districts must abide. However, state law does not supercede federal law, per Article VI, Clause 2 of the U.S Constitution.

What’s the hold up in Michigan?

The Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) appears to be prolonging the inevitable as well. For the past month, the governing body for public school athletics said they are waiting for clarification in regards to the Elliott-Larsen Act. Since then, Congressman Tim Walberg (R) recently advocated for “punishment” for the MHSAA if they don’t get on board with the federal law.

The MHSAA previously told Michigan News Source that only two boys in the state had been granted waivers to play in girls sports. Wilk pushed back, saying that is likely “an untruth.” He said, “How many times have districts allowed this to occur without seeking a waiver?” They are looking the other way,” he said, referencing at least one district where he knows this has occurred.

Lawyers aren’t helping matters either.  Attorneys with Thrun Law Firm, which represents a large number of school districts in Michigan, sent a letter two weeks ago that called Trump’s executive orders on Title IX and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) “likely unlawful.” However, a communication from Thrun to educators in November 2023 paint a different picture under the Biden administration’s policies.

What’s next?

It’s unclear when schools would lose their funding for not complying with the new federal law. However, Wilk said he is looking for parents to be involved in the fight for fairness in girls sports.

“We are pressing these school districts to comply with the law that has been understood for the last 50 years,” Wilk said.