Carroll ISD leaders say the district is nearing a final resolution in its legal fight against the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX regulations after the school board discussed dismissal of a federal appeal involving the U.S. Department of Education.
At the May 18 board meeting, Board President Cam Bryan said trustees would consider a stipulation of dismissal in Carroll ISD’s pending case before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.
Approval would make the lower court’s ruling final and invalidate the challenged regulations as applied in the case, Bryan said in the president’s report.
The case centered on the Biden administration’s 2024 Title IX rule, which interpreted sex discrimination to include claims based on sexual orientation and “gender identity.” Carroll ISD argued the rule exceeded federal authority and conflicted with district policy and Texas law.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Carroll ISD challenged the rule in federal court in 2024, arguing the changes would affect district policies tied to student privacy, athletics, bathrooms, locker rooms, and sex-based protections.
“Title IX has long served as a cornerstone in protecting students from discrimination based on sex in educational programs and activities,” Bryan said.
Bryan said Carroll ISD maintained that redefining sex to include “gender identity” conflicted with laws and policies designed to protect students, particularly female students and athletes.
District Says Ruling Protects Title IX’s Original Intent
Carroll ISD filed suit in May 2024 against the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Justice, and federal officials, challenging the Title IX rule.
U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor later sided with Carroll ISD and vacated the rule.
Bryan characterized the latest development as a significant victory for Carroll ISD, Texas, and those seeking to preserve Title IX’s original purpose.
“This outcome represents a significant legal victory for Carroll ISD, for the state of Texas, the entire nation, and for those committed to preserving the original intent of Title IX,” Bryan said.
Bryan said Title IX was intended to ensure women and girls had equal access to educational opportunities, expanded opportunities in athletics, and protections against sex-based discrimination.
Carroll ISD Highlights Broader District Gains
Bryan also used the report to highlight district accomplishments over the last five years.
Carroll ISD produced 155 National Merit Scholars over the last five years, compared with 97 in the previous five-year period, a 60% increase, according to the district.
Every Carroll ISD campus has earned an “A” rating from the Texas Education Agency, and the district has won the UIL Lone Star Cup twice in the last four years. Carroll ISD is on track to win again this year, which would bring its total to 10 titles, the most of any 6A school district in Texas, Bryan explained.
Bryan also cited Carroll ISD’s finances, including a 27% reduction in the tax rate since 2021, balanced budgets, strong reserves, and an expected $236 million reduction in bond debt by August.
The district has also saved taxpayers more than $80 million and is on track to be virtually debt-free by 2031, according to Bryan.
Carroll ISD also earned Moody’s highest AAA rating and recently provided $2,000 stipends for teachers and staff following voter approval of a VATRE.
The report also highlighted teacher retention and campus safety. Bryan said Carroll ISD had only three open teaching positions across 186 elementary positions during the final week of the school year.
For the first time in district history, every Carroll ISD campus also passed the TEA Intruder Audit, according to Bryan.
“At a time when many districts around the state are facing challenges, Carroll ISD continues to move forward and get stronger each year,” Bryan said.
Bryan closed the report by saying, “Promises made. Promises kept.”
