Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), a student-led movement demonstrating youth visibility in educational policymaking, announced on May 7 that the U.S. Department of Education officially opened an investigation on Monday into the civil rights complaint filed by SEAT regarding the comprehensive anti-transgender policy passed by the Katy Independent School District's Board of Trustees in August. The complaint, delivered to the federal department's Office of Civil Rights in November, challenges the policy's adverse impact on transgender students, asserting violation of Title IX rights with Gender Identity discrimination and perpetuating harmful sex stereotypes and heteronormative gender roles. “The Department of Education opening an investigation marks a significant step forward in holding Katy ISD accountable for its actions and ensuring that transgender students are equally protected under federal civil rights laws,” said SEAT Executive Director Cameron Samuels in a press release. “SEAT applauds the Department's response to our complaint and looks forward to cooperating fully with the investigation process.” In accordance with the policy, Katy ISD outed at least 23 students to their parents, as reported by the news website Houston Landing beginning on November 6. “This negligent enforcement raises serious concerns about privacy and well-being of trans students, who should be entitled to a safe and inclusive educational environment equal to that of cisgender peers,” Samuels said. "These policies hurt people. They drive students like myself away from school and make us feel unsafe. I hope at the very least, the investigation will make other districts think twice before putting their students' education and safety in jeopardy like Katy ISD did," former student Kadence Carter said. In its federal complaint, SEAT seeks a resolution that repeals Katy ISD's discriminatory policy, provides direct resources to students impacted by the district's irresponsibility, establishes professional LGBTQ+ inclusion training for district personnel, and codifies nondiscrimination protections for gender identity.

“The district is committed to offering equal educational opportunities to our entire community,” said Nick Petito, director of internal and community relations for Katy ISD in a statement to the Katy Times. “While we have received the OCR filing and deny any wrongdoing, we are committed to remaining fully cooperative and responsive throughout the process.” "Tides are finally turning," said Tompkins High School student Jarred Burton. "While this policy has undoubtedly put students in danger, we've risen up to become more informed, outspoken, and powerful. We will not sit idle while our school district tries to write us out of existence through policy. We deserve a seat at the table, and we’re one step closer to getting there." “SEAT continues to partner with students and families across Texas to ensure stakeholders know their rights and actualize their power to dismantle inequities in education.” Samuels said. “At school board meetings and our recent statewide summit at the capitol in Austin, we have handed out hundreds of SEAT "Know Your Rights" lanyards with our Student Resource Hub.” For more information on SEAT, go to studentsengaged.org.