Pembroke named in DOJ probe into gender, sexuality policies

The U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation into Illinois school districts’ policies and curricula related to gender identity and sexuality includes one district in Kankakee County.

Pembroke Community Consolidated School District 259 in Hopkins Park is among the 36 Illinois public school districts being investigated by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division.

The probe looks into how and if schools teach about gender and sexuality and what parent opt-outs are in place.

It is also investigating whether bathrooms and locker rooms are single-sex-only and whether access to girls’ sports teams is limited “based on biological sex,” according to an April 30 news release from the Department of Justice.

The investigations will examine whether the districts are adhering to Title IX and the Supreme Court’s precedents on parental rights, according to the release.

Pembroke Interim Superintendent Genevra Walters said the district has received correspondence from the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, advising the district that the DOJ is commencing a Title IX compliance review.

Walters said that in terms of the subject matter of the investigation, there have been no concerns or complaints about the district’s curriculum, procedures or practices.

Why these 36 school districts in particular have been selected is not known, but Walters said the superintendents have tried to determine commonalities.

One thing they found in common was that all the districts have been recipients of a Community Oriented Policing Services school violence prevention grant through the Department of Justice.

“All 36 received COP grants from the federal government,” Walters said in a statement. “The DOJ has not reached any conclusions, and due to the threat of litigation, the District is unable to provide additional details at this time.

“The work of our teachers and staff has not changed. Our focus remains on creating classrooms where every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.”

Walters added that the district would respond appropriately to the DOJ’s requests and work in good faith to ensure clarity and compliance.

Another nearby school district named in the investigation was Iroquois County Community Unit School District 9 in Watseka.

The full list includes: