The Campus Review
October 28, 2026
The US Department of Justice sued the Anne Arundel County Board of Education in Maryland on October 27. The DOJ alleges that the district’s gender identity policies violated federal student privacy laws.
The lawsuit came after federal officials raised concerns about the district’s policies and weeks after the district revised its rules on parents’ access to school records.
The district disagrees with the allegations and says it follows the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA). The case will examine whether the district’s revised policy addresses the DOJ’s concerns about parents’ access to student information.
Federal Lawsuit Against Anne Arundel County Public Schools
| Key Element | Detail |
| Federal Agency | US Department of Justice (Civil Rights Division) |
| Defendant | Board of Education of Anne Arundel County |
| Filing Date | October 27, 2026 |
| Court Jurisdiction | US District Court for the District of Maryland |
| Statutes at Issue | Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA); Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) |
| Core Dispute | Alleged withholding of student gender identity records and unnotified pronoun changes |
| Key Timeline | August policy revision followed summer federal scrutiny; DOJ filed lawsuit in October |
Why the DOJ Sues Anne Arundel Schools
The 31-page complaint follows months of federal scrutiny of school gender identity policies under President Donald Trump’s administration. The DOJ alleges that Anne Arundel County Public Schools violated federal law in several ways, prompting the DOJ Sues Anne Arundel Schools lawsuit:
- Unnotified Name and Pronoun Changes: Staff allegedly allowed minor students to use different names and pronouns without informing or obtaining consent from parents.
- Questioning Students: Staff allegedly questioned students privately about their preferred names and pronouns during the 2025-2026 school year without parental notice.
- Withholding Records: The complaint alleges that staff failed to provide complete education records when parents requested information about unfamiliar names used in school communications.
- Inadequate Record Correction Procedures: The DOJ argues that the district’s August policy revision did not establish a clear process for parents to challenge or correct records they considered inaccurate or misleading.
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division stated:
“Schools should not discuss preferred pronouns or ‘gender identity’ with a student without parental notification and consent.”
The DOJ is asking the court to declare the district’s past practices unlawful and order changes to its policies.
How the District Changed Its Policy in August
Anne Arundel County Public Schools revised its operational guidelines in August after federal scrutiny and threats of enforcement.
Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell issued updated guidance before the 2026-2027 school year, clarifying parents’ rights to inspect education records and directing staff not to use a transgender student’s preferred name when parents objected.
The revision also affirmed parents’ FERPA access rights to records concerning gender identity, sexual orientation, and preferred pronouns.
The DOJ proceeded with its October lawsuit, alleging unresolved compliance issues, including the lack of a clear process for parents to challenge or amend records.
AACPS disputed the allegations, reaffirmed its compliance with FERPA and PPRA, and said it had worked with the DOJ in good faith to address its concerns.
Comparing the Allegations and the District’s August Changes
The legal dispute contrasts the federal government’s claims of past non-compliance with the written guidelines and staff instructions the district established in August.
| Focus Area | DOJ’s Allegations | August Policy Changes |
| Parental access | Staff withheld relevant student records. | Clarified parents’ right to inspect records. |
| Names and pronouns | Staff acted without parental notice, the DOJ alleges. | Added guidance on parental objections. |
| Confidentiality | DOJ challenges limits on parental involvement. | Reaffirmed FERPA access rights. |
| Record correction | No clear process to challenge records, DOJ alleges. | DOJ says concerns remain unresolved. |
How FERPA and PPRA Apply to the Lawsuit
FERPA: Gives parents the right to inspect their children’s education records and request corrections to records they believe are inaccurate or misleading. The DOJ alleges that the district lacked adequate procedures for parents to challenge relevant records.
PPRA: Protects parental rights concerning certain surveys, analyses, and evaluations involving sensitive information. The DOJ alleges the district violated the law, but the court has not ruled on the claims.
In this lawsuit, the DOJ seeks a court declaration that the district’s practices violated federal law and an order requiring policy changes.
Next Steps in Federal Court
As the DOJ Sues Anne Arundel Schools, the Board of Education can respond through court filings. The DOJ seeks a declaration that the district violated federal law and an injunction requiring policy changes.
The district disputes the allegations and maintains that it complies with FERPA and PPRA. The court will determine whether the DOJ’s claims are established and what remedies, if any, are warranted.
Pranjal Kharche
