This is our third in a series of articles explaining why the Washington State Office of Public Instruction (OSPI) and the Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) continue to be in violation of an important federal law called Title IX. Our previous articles explained why Reykdal’s claim that “biological sex is a continuum” is false and why Reykdal’s recent threats against the Tumwater School Board are in violation of Title IX. To read our previous Title IX articles, go to this link: https://washingtonparentsnetwork.com/title-ix-facts
In this article, we will explain why Reykdal’s claim that “Washington State laws override Title IX” is also false. Title IX is a federal law that protects the rights of biological girls to fair opportunities in academic or athletic programs that receive federal funding. Title IX requires providing girls with their own private bathrooms, locker rooms and sports leagues. However, Policy 3211 directly conflicts with Title IX by requiring schools to allow biological males to enter girls bathrooms and participate in girls sports.
On February 28, 2025, the Washington Parents Network filed a 99 page Title IX complaint against Chris Reykdal and Bob Ferguson for violating the Title IX rights of more than 1,100,00 students during the past 8 years.
On Friday, March 21st, we will file an Amended Complaint summarizing Reykdal’s additional violations of Title IX since February 28th. If you are a parent or school board member and would like to submit a Declaration of supprt of our Title IX complaint, please go to this page and download a sample declaration. Edit your Declaration, sign it and email it back to us by March 20, 2025. https://washingtonparentsnetwork.com/free-downloads
Reykdal advises School Board Members to continue violating Title IX
In response to our Title IX complaint, an OPSI spokesperson stated that they would continue to urge school districts to comply with Washington state law instead of Title IX. Here is the OSPI quote: “We have continued to advise school districts to stay in compliance with state law, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender identity… An executive order is not law, and it does not override our state laws.” https://www.thecentersquare.com/national/article_7205b0f2-f611-11ef-80a1-57906666d866.html
The OSPI spokesperson should have read our Title IX complaint before making a comment about it. Our Title IX complaint is not merely about a Presidential Order. Our complaint is seeking enforcement of Title IX which is backed up by a federal court order in Tennessee v Cardona issued on January 9, 2025. Title IX is a federal law that overrides any state law that is contrary to Title IX – including Washington Policy 3211.
The state law OSPI claims has higher priority than Title IX is Washington Policy 3211 which states: “Public schools must allow all students to participate in athletics that correspond to their gender identity.“ In plain English, Washington schools are required to allow biological males to participate in girls sports. Washington Policy 3211 is therefore a clear violation of Title IX which states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in.. any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” The word “sex” in Title IX means “biological sex” and subsquent language requires fair treatment for biological sexes in athletic and academic programs. Fair treatment requires providing biological girls with their own bathrooms and sports programs.