PRJUSD mulls privacy solutions amid transgender student debate

By Camille DeVaul · Wed Feb 25 2026

Board discusses sports participation and student privacy as state, federal laws remain in conflict

PASO ROBLES — During the Tuesday, Feb. 24 meeting, Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (PRJUSD) trustees discussed Title IX relating to transgender female student-athletes and the use of restrooms and locker room facilities based on gender identity.

Throughout the past few months, students and parents have come forward to the board to address their concerns surrounding Title IX and concerns over the district’s policy on transgender students using the girls’ locker rooms, restrooms, and participating in girls’ sports at Paso Robles High School (PRHS).

Title IX is a federal law that bans sex-based discrimination in schools. It means students cannot be treated unfairly in programs, sports, or activities because of their sex or gender.

Trustee Kenney Enney repeatedly requested the board discuss the issue as a formal item on the agenda, however his motion failed more than once. It wasn't until the Tuesday, Jan. 13, meeting that trustees finally agreed to hold an information item on the subject in February.

You can find our full coverage on the Jan. 13 meeting at pasoroblespress.com

Superintendent Jennifer Loftus presented the information to trustees during the Feb. 24 meeting.

According to California law, students are allowed to participate in school sports teams that align with their gender identity, regardless of the gender listed on their records. Established through the California Education Code in 2013–2014, this law requires all public K–12 schools to let students join programs and athletics consistent with their identified gender — meaning a student who identifies as a girl can play on girls’ teams, and a student who identifies as a boy can play on boys’ teams.

Schools also cannot require students to use facilities based solely on the sex listed on their birth certificate. Basically, students can use the restroom and locker room that matches their gender identity and cannot be forced to use one that does not.

The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), which oversees high school sports in the state, follows California law by allowing students to compete in athletics consistent with their gender identity. Loftus says that CIF has affirmed it will continue adhering to state law even amid federal disagreements. While the organization has made minor adjustments in certain situations, such as the 2025 track championships, to address fairness concerns, transgender athletes are still permitted to compete. In short, CIF does not ban transgender athletes and aligns its policies with California law.

By July 1, all California schools serving grades 1-12 with multiple boys’ and girls’ restrooms must provide at least one all-gender restroom accessible to any student. This restroom must be clearly signed, unlocked, easy to locate, and stocked with menstrual products. Each school must also designate a staff contact responsible for ensuring compliance, and post a notice near at least one all-gender restroom explaining the rule and providing the contact information for the designated staff member.

"At the federal level, there is a disagreement, or there is a different understanding and different direction coming to California and to school districts across the nation with regard to implementation of Title IX," Loftus said.

As of earlier this year, California is at the center of conflict with the federal government over how Title IX applies to transgender athletes. Specifically, California is engaged in a legal dispute with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) over Title IX and transgender athletes.

As of early 2026, California is in a legal dispute with the U.S. Department of Education over Title IX and transgender athletes. In June 2025, OCR ruled that the California Department of Education and CIF violated Title IX by allowing transgender girls in girls’ sports, claiming this denies opportunities to biological females and requires biology-based rules. California rejected the ruling, leading the Department of Justice to file suit in July 2025. Despite ongoing federal investigations nationwide, California continues to follow state law, including AB 1266, which lets students participate in sports and use facilities consistent with their gender identity, while state officials call the federal actions politically motivated and legally disputed.

"The issue is quite simply not settled," Loftus said. "We want all students to feel welcomed and all students to feel safe. We've heard a lot from our students about the need for additional privacy in the locker rooms, specifically."

Staff have looked into bringing a trailer onto campus for an additional private changing area, but Loftus shares that the option also brings additional challenges, like finding a convenient location for practical student use and safety.

Another option is creating additional private changing areas in the girls' locker room, which Loftus says is a viable option.

Prior to public comment, Board President Joel Peterson asked everyone to be respectful, "We will not allow personal attacks, disrespectful language, or comments directed at certain individuals at either side of this coin."

Students and members of the public spoke either in support of transgender students in sports or in favor of privacy and protecting biological females in sports.

"My focus right now is simply on the safety and well-being of all the students," Enney shared. "That's all I'm concerned about right now."

Trustee Jim Cogan said that while he is in support of additional private spaces for students, he would like the public to remove the word "safe" from their vocabulary in regards to trans students.

"I would like us to remove the word 'safe' from our vernacular because it presumes that students that are in a bathroom with a trans student are somehow unsafe, and that is not true, and it's not fair," he said.

Enney provided a response to Cogan's request.

"I'll rebut since this is a rebuttal to your accusing me of lying about girls being safe, Jim," said Enney. "My concern right now is the safety and the well-being of all the students, not whether you one-up me."

Cogan then took an opportunity to clarify.

"I see a lot of signs that talk about keeping girls safe and I don't believe that girls are unsafe, I just want to make sure they have access to privacy," Cogan said.

Staff will continue to work to build additional privacy stalls in the girls' locker room and monitor the Supreme Court's decision.

The next Paso Robles Joint Unified School District is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10, at 6 p.m.