DOJ Probes 3 Michigan School Districts Over SOGI Curriculum

Federal officials examine if districts included sexual orientation, gender ideology content without parental notification.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division has opened investigations into three Michigan public school districts - Detroit Public Schools Community District, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, and Lansing School District - to determine whether they included sexual orientation and gender ideology (SOGI) content in the curriculum without notifying parents. The probe will also assess if the districts restricted access to single-sex spaces like bathrooms and locker rooms based on biological sex.

Why it matters

The investigations highlight ongoing debates around parental rights, LGBTQ+ education, and the role of government oversight in public schools. Critics argue schools should respect families' religious beliefs, while supporters say SOGI curriculum is important for inclusivity and student wellbeing.

The details

The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division will examine if the districts included SOGI content in any pre-K through 12th-grade classes, and if so, whether parents were notified of their right to opt their children out. Officials will also review if the districts restricted access to single-sex facilities based on biological sex.

  • The investigations were opened on February 19, 2026.

The players

U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division

The federal agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws, including in the education system.

Detroit Public Schools Community District

One of the three Michigan school districts under investigation by the DOJ.

Godfrey-Lee Public Schools

One of the three Michigan school districts under investigation by the DOJ, located in the Grand Rapids area.

Lansing School District

One of the three Michigan school districts under investigation by the DOJ.

Harmeet K. Dhillon

Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, leading the investigations.

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What they’re saying

“This Department of Justice is fiercely committed to ending the growing trend of local school authorities embedding sexuality and gender ideology in every aspect of public education.”

— Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, DOJ Civil Rights Division (clickondetroit.com)

“Supreme Court precedent is clear: parents have the right to direct the religious upbringing of their children, which includes exempting them from ideological instruction which conflicts with their families' sincerely held religious beliefs. And Title IX demands that we guard the safety, dignity, and innocence of our youngest citizens—our children—by ensuring that they have unfettered access to bathrooms and locker rooms of their biological sex.”

— Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General, DOJ Civil Rights Division (clickondetroit.com)

What’s next

The Justice Department said the review will evaluate whether the districts, which receive federal funding, are complying with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 as well as the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor. Officials emphasized that the Civil Rights Division has not reached any conclusions and that the investigations are ongoing.

The takeaway

These DOJ investigations highlight the ongoing national debate around parental rights, LGBTQ+ education, and the appropriate role of government oversight in public schools. The outcomes could have significant implications for how schools approach sensitive curriculum topics and student privacy issues.