DOJ Probes 36 Illinois School Districts Over Gender Ideology Curriculum
Justice Department launches investigations into 36 Illinois school districts for teaching gender ideology without parental notification, citing Title IX violations and Supreme Court precedent on parental rights.
The Justice Department announced Thursday that it is investigating 36 Illinois school districts for potentially teaching gender ideology to students without notifying parents. The move ignited immediate resistance from Illinois Democrats, who called the probe a politically motivated sham. For families across the state, the investigation raises a fundamental question: Who decides what children learn about gender and sexuality?
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon stated the DOJ is "determined to put an end to local school authorities keeping parents in the dark about how sexuality and gender ideology are being pushed in classrooms." The Civil Rights Division launched investigations on April 30 to determine whether districts included sexual orientation and gender ideology content in pre-K through 12 classes without informing parents of their right to opt their children out.
The probe examines whether schools properly notify parents about curriculum addressing gender identity, sexual orientation, and related topics. Investigators will also assess whether districts restrict access to single-sex bathrooms, locker rooms, and girls' sports teams based on biological sex.
Dhillon cited Supreme Court precedent as the legal foundation for the action. "Supreme Court precedent leaves no doubt: parents have the fundamental right and primary authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children," Dhillon said. "This includes exempting their children from ideological instruction that contradicts their values or decisions about their children's health and best interests."
The investigation references Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 alongside two Supreme Court decisions. Mirabelli v. Bonta, a 6-3 emergency docket ruling, blocked California's policy barring schools from notifying parents when a student socially transitions gender. Mahmoud v. Taylor held that public schools burden parents' religious exercise when they require children to participate in gender-identity instruction without opt-outs.
Illinois Democrats dismissed the investigation as partisan overreach within hours of the announcement. Gov. JB Pritzker's office called it a "sham investigation" and accused the Trump administration of "punishing states the President does not like." A spokesperson for Pritzker said the Civil Rights Division "used to investigate actual discrimination concerns to ensure all individuals are treated equally under the law, but they're now focused on belittling the rights and humanity of LGBTQ+ communities."
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin echoed the criticism, stating the president is "once again weaponizing DOJ to carry out a sham investigation against a state that did not vote for him in the 2024 election." Durbin added, "I can save DOJ some time. Their investigators will find 36 Illinois school districts dedicated to providing their students with a good, well-rounded education."
Multiple superintendents across the state confirmed receiving DOJ correspondence and pledged cooperation. Bloomington District 87 Superintendent David Mouser said his district will "respond appropriately to the DOJ's requests and will continue to work in good faith to ensure clarity and compliance with applicable education requirements."
Freeport District 145 Superintendent Anna Alvarado and School Board President Martha Furst said they are "confident that our instructional and student practices are in full compliance with state and federal law." O'Fallon Districts 90 and 104, and Tamaroa District 5 issued statements of cooperation with the investigation. Odin District 722 confirmed receiving the DOJ letter but did not explicitly pledge cooperation.
The investigation spans districts of widely varying sizes, from rural schools with extremely small enrollment to Chicago's largest charter network, the Noble Network. Chicago Public Schools, the state's largest district, does not appear on the list. The DOJ did not specify what prompted the investigation or why these 36 districts were selected.
Some superintendents speculated that grant participation might be a factor. Oregon Community Unit School District 220 Superintendent PJ Caposey posted on Facebook that the probe "may have something to do with the districts' participation in a federal School Violence Prevention Program grant," though he acknowledged this was speculation.
The Illinois probe follows more than a dozen similar Title IX investigations announced since Trump began his second term in January 2025. The administration has launched inquiries in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Washington, Maine, Kansas, and Colorado. The administration has already found Title IX violations in Kansas school districts and Jefferson County, Colorado.
Illinois passed its Inclusive Curriculum Law in 2019 when Pritzker signed House Bill 246, requiring public schools to include instruction on the roles and contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in the state's history curriculum starting with the 2020-21 school year. Illinois was the fifth state to enact such legislation. The DOJ's April 30 press release did not mention the Illinois law.
The Civil Rights Division under Dhillon has undergone significant staffing changes, with approximately 75 percent of division staff departing since January 2025. Dhillon was confirmed as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights by a vote of 52-45 on April 3, 2025.
The investigation carries potential federal funding consequences if violations are found, though the DOJ did not specify penalties. The Civil Rights Division emphasized it has not reached any conclusions about the subject matter. The 36 districts under investigation are recipients of hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal taxpayer funding, according to the DOJ press release.
Ed Yohnka of the ACLU of Illinois criticized the probe, stating, "None of these schools need some ideological culture warrior in Washington, D.C., telling Watseka what their curriculum should be. The notion that the Justice Department is going to launch investigations and divert money for education because the president signed a piece of paper is just a misuse of our tax dollars."
The investigations underscore a broader federal effort to enforce parental notification and opt-out rights across the nation. For families in those 36 Illinois districts, the outcome will determine whether they regain a voice in their children's education or watch as classrooms continue shaping young minds without their knowledge.