LEWISTON — The Lewiston School Committee approved changes to the school department’s Title IX policy on first reading at an April 7 meeting to better align with former federal guidelines issued by President Donald Trump in his first term, as the U.S. Department of Education reverts back to the 2020 rules.

The legal advice came from the School Department’s law office, Drummond Woodsum, in a Feb. 5 “client alert” letter. With little discussion, board members voted unanimously to approve the changes. A vote on the second reading is expected to occur at the next board meeting April 28.

The changes essentially combine the district’s Title IX policy and harassment policy, Assistant Superintendent Karen Paquette said at the April 7 meeting.

In 2024, then-President Joe Biden changed the Title IX rules to contain a provision that included protections against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation, taking effect last August, according to the Drummond Woodsum letter.

After a legal battle was mounted in 2024 challenging the U.S. Department of Education’s authority to change that definition, “a federal court vacated the 2024 rules last month,” the letter said. School districts must now revert back to the 2020 rules.

The Trump administration has implemented changes at the U.S. Department of Education, including reducing the federal department’s workforce by 50%.

Late last week, the department started the process of pulling the state’s federal funding over Maine’s defiance to Trump’s order demanding it stop allowing transgender girls to compete in girls sports.

Current Title IX investigations must result in a conclusion that complies with the 2020 rules, the Drummond Woodsum letter said. The law office reminded school districts in its letter that discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation is illegal under the Maine Human Rights Act.

“We know how frustrating this is for all of you who have spent time reviewing, editing and adopting new policies over the past five months,” the letter said.

Lewiston public schools will address gender identity and sexual orientation discrimination under the state’s law and not under Title IX, Paquette said.

When it comes to transgender student athletes, Lewiston Schools will continue to follow Maine state law, Superintendent Jake Langlais said. The Title IX policy changes only impact complaints and how they are handled procedurally.