LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) — The battle over what Michigan schools teach about gender has crossed state lines, with a Republican education official urging the Trump Justice Department to scrutinize the state’s policies.
Board member Nikki Snyder sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Justice arguing the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) is the “root problem” behind school policies she believes conflict with recent federal rulings and executive actions tied to parental rights and Title IX protections.
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“The MDE is akin to the Italian mob in its heyday,” Snyder said in a statement, accusing the department of using grant funding to compel districts to follow its guidance. “Districts must either get in line or face financial pain.”
Her request follows letters sent last week by the U.S. Department of Justice to three Michigan districts—Detroit, Lansing, and Godfrey-Lee—seeking information about sex education materials, parental notification policies, and access to single-sex spaces such as bathrooms and locker rooms.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the federal investigation will examine whether districts are complying with Title IX and ensuring parents are informed of their right to opt their children out of certain instruction.
The Michigan Board of Education, which holds a 6-2 Democratic majority, adopted updated health education guidelines in November that address topics including gender identity and sexual orientation. State Board President Pamela Pugh said Snyder does not speak for the board and emphasized the guidelines are advisory, not mandates.
“Local control remains in place,” Pugh said, noting that school boards set curriculum and parents retain opt-out rights.
Snyder maintains that because the MDE develops and enforces the guidance, federal oversight is warranted.
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The Justice Department’s inquiry is ongoing.