US Education Dept. launches investigation into Camas School District over Title IX allegations

The U.S. Department of Education has launched a directed investigation into the Camas School District to determine whether it violated Title IX.

The investigation officially launched on Thursday. Allegations involve allowing a transgender student athlete to compete on a girls’ sports team and failing to adequately respond to reports of sexual harassment involving that student.

The district confirmed to KIRO Newsradio it received formal notification of the investigation and said it will cooperate fully. It emphasized that the Office for Civil Rights’ notification states that opening an investigation is not evidence of a violation of federal civil rights laws.

Details of the allegations

The allegations stem from incidents involving the Camas High School girls’ cross-country team during the 2026 season.

Parents and team members alleged that a transgender athlete was permitted to compete alongside female runners and entered a hotel room shared by female athletes during a team trip, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Complaints also alleged the student used the athletes’ bathroom to take an ice bath and sexually harassed female teammates during travel to an invitational meet, officials alleged.

Parents further claimed the district did not respond appropriately to concerns about the alleged conduct. Families also criticized an independent investigator hired by the school, alleging the investigator asked female students whether they were “transphobic” or if they “hate trans people,” the department said.

“The voters in Washington stood up for women and girls in their state, and the Trump Administration stands with them as we continue to fight for safe and fair athletic opportunities across the country,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said in a statement. “Washingtonians sent a message: they are done with men in women’s sports and want to keep young women safe. Camas School District should follow suit.”

Camas district says student safety remains its priority

Superintendent Dr. John Anzalone said the district’s focus remains on the students involved, despite the attention surrounding the case.

“We recognize that this situation has generated strong feelings and significant public attention, but our focus remains on the students at the center of it,” Anzalone said in a statement. “They deserve to learn, compete, and enjoy their school experiences without becoming the focus of a national debate. We will continue to put their safety and well-being first while working cooperatively through this process.”

The district said it has worked to comply with state and federal laws and Washington Interscholastic Activities Association rules and will continue consulting legal counsel as the investigation proceeds.

It declined to discuss individual students or confidential investigative details, citing student privacy and the integrity of the investigation.

The federal investigation

The agency said the investigation will focus on whether the district’s policies and actions violate Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funding.

According to the district, the investigation will examine its athletic participation and accommodation practices, along with its response to allegations of inappropriate conduct involving student-athletes during fall 2026.

The department also pointed to recent actions by the Trump administration, including its reinstatement of the 2020 Title IX regulations and a 2025 executive order addressing participation in women’s sports. Federal officials have argued those policies are intended to preserve what they describe as equal athletic opportunities for female students.

The investigation follows Washington’s Initiative 638, which voters approved earlier this month. The measure requires school districts and organizations that govern interscholastic athletics to prohibit biologically male students from competing in girls’ sports with separate male and female divisions.

The Department of Education cited the initiative as part of a broader national trend, noting voters in Arizona, Colorado, and Nebraska recently approved similar measures.

If educational institutions fail to remedy Title IX violations, they can face penalties, including the potential loss of federal funding.

Previous Camas protest

In October, a protest took place in Camas, drawing attention to I-638. Students reportedly shared concerns and organized a “walkout.” Camas School District told KIRO Newsradio it respects students’ right to express their views but also has a responsibility to maintain safety.

I-638 passed with 56.6% in favor and 43.3% opposed, according to The Associated Press. However, Democrats are working to overturn it.

The initiative was sponsored by the political committee Let’s Go Washington and requires students who compete in girls’ sports to have a health care provider verify their biological sex.

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