The U.S. Department of Education announced federal investigations into two school districts Tuesday, examining allegations that educators circumvented parental rights laws through inappropriate classroom activities and unauthorized displays involving controlled substances.
Two Districts Under Federal Scrutiny
Federal investigators are examining Denver Public Schools and Washington state’s Bethel School District for potential violations of federal privacy laws protecting parental authority. Denver officials face allegations that a high school teacher required same-sex students to kiss during class. Meanwhile, Bethel administrators must explain how vials containing unknown liquid appeared in an LGBTQ Pride Month display at Graham-Kapowsin High School in June. The investigations target whether districts violated federal statutes requiring parental consent before exposing children to curriculum covering sexual behavior or attitudes.
#USnews: Trump officials launch probe of 2 school districts over alleged testosterone vials, kissing exercise pic.twitter.com/4ldti5IAmW
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Frank Miller, director of the Student Privacy Policy Office at the Education Department, emphasized the administration’s position. Parents must be the decision-makers in matters impacting the most intimate parts of their children’s lives, he stated. The department announced the probes on National Parents’ Day and promised additional enforcement actions throughout the week targeting schools that allegedly sideline parental authority in sensitive educational matters.
District Responses and Local Actions
Denver Public Schools spokesman Scott Pribble confirmed administrators placed the accused teacher on leave after students raised concerns in March 2025. The Board of Education terminated the teacher’s employment in May following a completed internal investigation. District officials declined to specify what prompted student complaints but affirmed their commitment to student safety and dignity as absolute priorities guiding all actions.
Bethel School District reported that administrators never authorized the vials discovered at Graham-Kapowsin High School. Officials immediately removed the items and transferred them to the Pierce County Sheriff’s Office. Law enforcement identified the student who brought the vials to campus. Prosecutors referred the juvenile to a drug and alcohol diversion program without filing charges. The vials were never tested for testosterone, a controlled substance prescribed for gender-affirming medical treatments.
Broader Pattern of Federal Intervention
The Trump administration has launched dozens of investigations targeting schools accommodating transgender students through bathroom policies, locker room access, or confidential counseling that excludes parents. Both Denver and Bethel districts operate in Democratic-led states. Federal officials previously accused Denver schools of violating Title IX protections over all-gender bathroom facilities. The Education Department maintains that schools withholding information about students’ gender identities from parents violate federal privacy statutes. Bethel administrators announced protocol reviews to ensure all school materials align strictly with educational standards and community expectations.