Education Department rule would limit transgender student athlete bans

A rule change outlined Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education would establish a new framework for developing eligibility criteria for transgender athletes participating in school sports.

The notice of proposed rule making falls under Title IX and aims to limit the extent to which individual schools or athletic associations can enact blanket bans on transgender student athlete participation, the department said Thursday.

Following the Education Amendments of 1972, federal regulations have required schools to provide equal athletic opportunities for students regardless of gender.

Lawmakers in Kansas Wednesday passed legislation that will ban transgender student athletes from competing in women’s sports beginning this summer. The state is the latest to enact sweeping bans of transgender athletes wishing to compete in a sport consistent with their gender identity.