DENVER (KDVR) — Denver Public Schools has confirmed that one of its high schools, which previously converted a girls’ restroom into an all-gender restroom, has now added “a second all-gender restroom on the same floor.”
The new all-gender restroom at East High School, which began school on Monday, was converted from a boys’ restroom, said a spokesperson from the school district to FOX31 on Thursday.
In a statement provided to FOX31 from Denver Public Schools, the district said:
“In response to the first restroom change from gender-specific to all-gender this past January, the Office for Civil Rights initiated a process to investigate the District’s compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments. The addition of a second all-gender restroom on the same floor as the first restroom was suggested and paid for by the District to help address the notion of any unfairness or lack of parity across facilities. Students will continue to have access to gender-specific restrooms as well as existing single-stall gender-neutral bathrooms throughout the school.”
On Jan. 3, East High School announced the new all-gender restroom. Later that month, the U.S. Department of Education announced it was launching an investigation into the school district for “discriminating against its female students.”
The federal department cited Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 in its January announcement of the investigation saying that the school district, as a recipient of federal funds, “may provide separate toilet, locker room, and shower facilities on the basis of sex, but such facilities provided for students of one sex shall be comparable to such facilities provided for students of the other sex.”
A letter sent to Denver Public Schools Superintendent Alex Marrero from the Department of Education stated that the Office for Civil Rights would contact Denver Public Schools district officials, which included arrangements for “next steps in the investigation.”
In a prior statement to FOX31, the district said that the first bathroom conversion “was added as the result of a student-led process that reflects our commitment to inclusivity and student voice, leadership, and empowerment, providing a welcoming space for all.”
At the time of the investigation announcement, the school district had said to the Associated Press that it had not received a formal notice of the investigation, but provided the following statement to FOX31 in January.
“This bathroom was added as the result of a student-led process that reflects our commitment to inclusivity and student voice, leadership, and empowerment, providing a welcoming space for all. The all gender lavatory has stalls that are designed for privacy, with 12-foot-tall partitions to ensure the comfort and security of all students who elect to use them. This restroom serves all students, including those who may feel uncomfortable in gender-specific facilities and aligns with our values of supporting every student. The faculty of East High School has developed a plan to supervise and monitor this lavatory, just as they do with all others. Currently, East High School has designated restrooms for male and female students in addition to the all gender lavatory.
“It is unprecedented for the Office for Civil Rights to admittedly initiate its own investigation, into a single bathroom, as a result of local media coverage rather than in response to a filed complaint requesting their involvement.
“DPS is committed to educational equity, and we will continue to honor the needs of our students.”
FOX31 reached out to the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights on Thursday for a statement regarding the new all-gender restroom.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
