The Trump administration moved Thursday to strip federal funding from four Kansas school districts that the Department of Education says are still violating Title IX by letting male students use girls' restrooms and locker rooms, escalating a monthslong standoff into a hard deadline.

The department's Office for Civil Rights gave Olathe, Shawnee Mission and Topeka 10 days to come into compliance or face referral to the Department of Justice and termination of federal aid, and notified Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools that it is preparing for enforcement after talks reached an impasse.

The action follows an April OCR determination that all four districts violated Title IX by allowing male students into female restrooms, locker rooms and changing areas, and by permitting some male students to compete on girls' sports teams based on gender identity.

OCR proposed resolution agreements to bring the districts into compliance.

The department says the districts have refused to act on them and have failed to honor parents' rights under FERPA to inspect their children's educational records.

"These Kansas school districts' ongoing refusal to come into compliance with Title IX puts the safety, privacy, and dignity of young women and girls at risk," said Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary for civil rights.

Richey framed the move as a Title IX Month enforcement push and vowed the administration would press the case to the fullest extent of federal law.

Title IX bars sex discrimination in any program receiving federal money, and the statute allows the department to terminate that funding when violations are not cured.

The investigations opened in August 2025 after complaints from the Defense of Freedom Institute, a conservative legal group.

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican, separately wrote to Education Secretary Linda McMahon, flagging the districts' policies and adding state-level pressure to the federal investigation.

Olathe pushed back hard, saying the department rejected what the district described as a signed voluntary resolution agreement submitted in May.

The district said it "firmly maintains that it has always been, and continues to be, in compliance with both Title IX and FERPA," accused the administration of pursuing "a predetermined result that does not reflect the facts, the law, or the district's actual practices," and said it would now defend its position through every available legal channel to protect federal funding.

Topeka Public Schools said it was reviewing the letter and "respectfully disagrees" with OCR's findings but would continue working with the office.

Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools said it had not yet evaluated the letter.

The districts now have 10 days to respond before the department can move forward with a DOJ referral and potential funding termination proceedings.