Kelly statement on Greenville School Board rejecting Title IX changes

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) issued this statement after the Greenville Area School Board unanimously voted down changes to Title IX, which would have expanded "the prohibition of discrimination to criteria to include pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity," according to The (Greenville) Record-Argus.

"Well done parents and fellow citizens of Greenville Area School District. The federal Department of Education has no right dictating to parents what is best for their kids. They should certainly not be engaging in culture wars in our schools," Rep. Kelly said.

Parents and community members raised concerns that changes to the district's Title IX policy would risk student safety, particularly for female students; and, "they also worry it opens the door for biologically male students to compete in girls' sports," according to the Record-Argus.

The Sharon Herald reports Greenville Area School Board President Rick Rossi said, "I have been in education for more than 50 years and I have never seen a policy come out of the government as bad as this."

In April 2024, a mandate issued by Biden Administration expanded Title IX's term "sex discrimination" to recognize sexual orientation and gender identity.

Title IX, passed in 1972, is a federal law that protects the rights of women and girls to educational equality.