DOJ investigates Illinois schools over secret gender transitions, ideology

By Fox News · Fox News

President Donald Trump's Justice Department is continuing its investigatory crackdown on left-wing ideology in schools, homing in on one of the biggest blue states renowned for its activist teachers unions. The DOJ announced an investigation into 36 Illinois school districts over whether they allowed parents to opt their children out of instruction involving sexual orientation and gender ideology (SOGI). "What we've learned is that Illinois has a comprehensive sex education and LGBTQ education regime for its public schools, and it appears that it does not allow for parental opt-outs, so these are mandatory topics," Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon told Fox News in an exclusive interview. "If the schools are mandating this and not allowing parents the opportunity to opt out of content that may be inappropriate for them based on religion or values, they would be afoul of that Supreme Court precedent," Dhillon said. "And so we have reason to believe that these school districts in Illinois are not obeying the law, and we're going to look into that." EDUCATION DEPT LAUNCHES 18 TITLE IX PROBES AFTER SCOTUS HEARS ARGUMENTS IN EFFORTS TO PROTECT WOMEN'S SPORTS The review will also examine whether districts are encouraging or facilitating student gender transitions without parental notice or consent, including through name and pronoun policies or school clubs focused on gender identity. "This Department of Justice is determined to put an end to local school authorities keeping parents in the dark about how sexuality and gender ideology are being pushed in classrooms," Dhillon wrote in a statement, announcing the investigation. "Supreme Court precedent leaves no doubt: parents have the fundamental right and primary authority to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children. "This includes exempting their children from ideological instruction that contradicts their values or decisions about their children’s health and best interests."…