3 Michigan school districts investigated over LGBTQ curriculum, opt outs

February 19, 2026

The U.S. Department of Justice has launched investigations into three Michigan school districts—Detroit Public Schools Community District, Lansing School District, and Godfrey-Lee Public Schools—to examine whether they are providing instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity without offering parents the ability to opt out their children. The investigations stem from Michigan's November 2025 revision of health education standards that incorporate LGBTQ+ topics into required health classes, which the DOJ suggests may violate Title IX and a recent Supreme Court ruling protecting parental religious rights. The DOJ is demanding extensive documentation of materials related to gender and sexuality topics across all grade levels and has threatened to withhold federal funding if districts fail to comply.

Who is affected

Detroit Public Schools Community District, Lansing School District, and Godfrey-Lee Public Schools (districts under investigation)
Students enrolled in these three districts across grades pre-K through 12
Parents of students in these districts, particularly those with religious objections to LGBTQ+ curriculum content
Transgender and nonbinary students in these districts
The Michigan Board of Education (whose revised standards triggered the investigation)
Districts' staff and administrators who must respond to the investigation
Michigan Alliance for Student Opportunity (advocacy organization commenting on the impact)

What action is being taken

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the three Michigan school districts
The DOJ is requesting the districts produce extensive documentation including slideshows, presentations, textbooks, library books, and other materials related to sexuality and gender topics from September 1, 2023, to present
The DOJ is seeking to determine whether districts are limiting bathroom and locker room access based on biological sex assigned at birth
The Lansing School District is assessing what the investigation means for them

Why it matters

This investigation represents a significant expansion of federal enforcement targeting LGBTQ+ content in schools and could reshape how districts implement state-mandated health education standards. The potential loss of federal funding poses severe financial consequences, particularly for these three districts which receive higher percentages of federal money compared to wealthier districts, potentially affecting their ability to serve students with the greatest needs. The investigation reflects broader tensions between state education guidelines, parental rights, religious freedoms, and protections for LGBTQ+ students. It also demonstrates how recent Supreme Court precedent and Trump administration policies are being used to challenge school districts' inclusion of gender identity and sexual orientation topics, even when such content is part of state-required standards.

What's next

The Lansing School District will comment at a later date if appropriate after assessing the investigation
If the DOJ investigation determines the districts are violating Title IX, it will work to resolve the situation through informal voluntary means
If voluntary compliance cannot be secured, the DOJ may take formal action including suspending, terminating, or refusing federal financial assistance, or commencing civil action against the districts

Read full article from source: bridgedetroit.com