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According to Elle Magazine, the student, a trans girl (meaning that she was assigned male at birth, or born biologically male) requested access to the girls' locker room, but rather than giving her unrestricted access, the school, located in Illinois' Palatine Township School District 211, agreed that she could use the locker room—but would have to shower and change in a seperate, private area. 

After working with the American Civil Liberties Union, the student filed a complaint against District 211, and two years later, the Department of Education has finally determined that the district's policy does, in fact, violate the law. Catherine Lhamon, Education Department Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, explained why this situation is wrong: "All students deserve the opportunit to participate equally in school programs and activities—this is a basic civil right," she said. "Unfortunatey, Townshop High School District 211 is not following the law because the district continues to deny a female student the right to use the girls' locker room."

Though the school maintains that the compromise they offered is a "reasonable" solution that "honors every student's dignity," ACLU lawyer John Knight maintains that the school's decision "stems not from any issues raised by other students, but from 'speculation' by the district's administration."

Though District 211 superintendent Daniel Cates maintains that the district will continue to holding settlement negotiations with the DoE, as of now the district must change its policy within 30 days—or potentially lose the federal funding they currently use.

What do you think of the DoE's decision? Weigh in below in the comments.

Stock photo credit: Shutterstock.com

by Ilana Bernstein | 2/1/2016