US Education Department investigates Buncombe school district over transgender restroom policies

June 20, 2026 - 04:17

The U.S. Department of Education has opened a civil rights investigation into Buncombe County Schools, focusing on the district's policies regarding restroom access for transgender students. The inquiry, announced Wednesday, stems from a formal Title IX complaint filed by a parent.

According to the complaint, the parent alleges that female students in the district are being required to share restrooms with individuals who are biologically male but identify as female. The parent described this as forcing girls to share "female-only restrooms with biological men," a claim that has sparked the federal review.

The investigation will examine whether the school district's policies violate federal laws that prohibit sex-based discrimination in educational programs. Title IX, the federal statute in question, has been at the center of a national debate over how schools should accommodate transgender students while balancing the privacy concerns of other students.

Buncombe County Schools officials have acknowledged the investigation but have not yet provided a detailed response to the allegations. The district has previously stated that its policies aim to create an inclusive environment for all students. The outcome of the federal probe could set a precedent for how similar disputes are handled in other school systems across the country.