First, a refresher on Title IX. With President Trump’s return to office came the return of the 2020 version of Title IX. Title IX is a federal law that was passed in 1972 and prohibits discrimination against individuals on the basis of sex in educational institutions that receive federal funds. The 2020 version, which is close to the 1972 original, defines “sex” as the biological attributes assigned at birth, whereas the Biden Administration's 2024 definition included sexual orientation, gender identity, or sex characteristics.
In addition to “vacating” 2024 Title IX, President Trump issued an Executive Order, Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government, to “enforce all sex-protective laws to promote [the] reality” that there are “two sexes, male and female,” and that “[t]hese sexes are not changeable and are grounded in fundamental and incontrovertible reality.”
Through a Dear Colleague letter sent to k-12 and post-secondary schools on February 14, 2025, school districts were informed of both the changes to Title IX and the Executive Order. If a federally-funded school does not comply, the ultimate penalty is the withdrawal of federal funds—including monies earmarked for student loans.
The answer: According to the board policies listed on each district's website, none of the nine public schools examined appear to have compliant language in their nondiscrimination policies.
Most schools have updated their Title IX policy since January of 2025, but their other policies have phrasing or modified definitions which seem more in line with the 2024 version.
Seven of the nine public school districts in Ottawa County use Neola as their policy writer. The Neola policy consistently referenced for Title IX is entitled, “Nondiscrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity”—which reads in part:
The Board of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), disability, age (except as authorized by law), religion, military status, ancestry, or genetic information (collectively, “Protected Classes”) in its educational programs or activities…
The phrase “including sexual orientation or gender identity” does not appear to follow the language of 2020 Title IX or the Executive Order. That phrase also can be found in other Neola policies on nondiscrimination and anti-harassment, plus a few policies that are similar.
The list below links each school to its policy page. The number beside the schools indicates how many other of their board policies use the phrase “including sexual orientation or gender identity.”
Schools with Neola policies
Coopersville Public Schools, 8
Grand Haven Area Public Schools, 13
Hudsonville Public Schools, 13
Spring Lake Public Schools, 12
Schools with Thrun Law or Miller Johnson Policies
West Ottawa Public Schools
Though West Ottawa Public Schools use Thrun Law Firm as their policy writer, their Title IX webpage links to the 2020 Neola nondiscrimination policy that defines sex as including sexual orientation or gender identity.
Jenison Public Schools
Jenison Public Schools also use Thrun Law Firm, and their nondiscrimination policy reads: The District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, height, weight, familial status, marital status, military service, veteran status, genetic information, disability, or any other legally protected basis in admission, access to District programs and activities, or employment.
Zeeland Public Schools
Miller Johnson is the policy writer for Zeeland Public Schools, and their nondiscrimination policy reads: The Board of Education is committed to maintaining an educational and work environment that is free from discrimination and harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, genetic information, marital status or any other legally protected characteristic.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission defines the term as information about an individual's and an individual’s family members’ genetic tests and medical history.
In addition to board policies seeming to be out of line with 2020 Title IX and the Executive Order, the Title IX/Harassment-specific page of eight of the schools contains wording and/or links to training materials, certificates, guides, and nondiscrimination statements which appear to have remnants of 2024 Title IX language. Only Coopersville Public Schools seem to have compliant language in their Title IX section (but not in their policies).
Each school listed below is linked to its Title IX/Harassment webpage.
Allendale Public Schools
Grand Haven Area Public Schools
Based on the phrasing that continues to be used in these Ottawa County schools’ policies, embedded links, and resources, none of the districts appear to demonstrate 100% compliance with the 2020 Title IX language.
Yes, some schools have made an effort to make some changes. But even if changes have been made, as long as there’s still adherence to 2024 Title IX language through board policies, etc., a school does not appear to follow federal guidance.
As mentioned in the previous Title IX article, Jenison Public Schools Board of Education voted in March of 2025 to revert to 2020 Title IX. And, according to Allendale Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Garth Cooper, last summer APS did not update their policies to 2024 Title IX but rather continued under the 2020 version.
Given that both JPS and APS claim to be following 2020 Title IX, an email was sent to each asking when compliant language would appear in their board policies.
JPS Assistant Superintendent and Title IX Coordinator Leslie Philips responded, “We did adopt the 2020 regulations and are working under those, as the 2024 were repealed. Any reference on our website to 2024 is a mistake.” She asked to be forwarded the 2024 references found and has not responded again.
APS Superintendent Dr. Garth Cooper’s response was, “The language in our Board policies all reflect the 2020 guidance.” He stood by his statement even after being sent a list of APS policies that appear to have language not compliant with the Executive Action by President Trump.
Though not mentioned in Dr. Cooper's reply, days earlier at the May 12, 2025, APS board meeting, the board voted unanimously to remove “including sexual orientation and gender identity” from a Food Services policy, after the Food Services Director brought it to the superintendent’s attention. Dr Cooper explained to the board that the policy language “was inconsistent with what we've seen out of Washington.” He asked Neola and Varnum Law to review the policy and they “took that language out.”
When asked why APS removed the language in the Food Services policy and not the other 10 policies with the same language, Dr. Cooper said that this particular guidance came from the USDA. “We have not had the same guidance regarding the other policies yet,” he responded, “but Neola is aware of and monitoring any legislation or changes to the Title IX guidelines. As of now, we are being told that the language is not being modified partly due to the State's Elliot Larsen Act (passed in 2023).”
As for the guide, which also was asked about in the email, Dr. Cooper said, “The Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Information Guide are required under Public Act 57 of 2023, which passed on July 18, 2023… The Act states that for the 2024-2025 school year, school districts shall disseminate the materials developed by MDE and partners to students in grades 6-12...”
Understanding it takes time to implement changes, it is hoped that APS, JPS, and the rest of the districts will soon update all of their policies and resources. According to the Department of Education, if it is determined that these Ottawa County schools are not compliant in “vacating” 2024 Title IX, they could lose their federal funding.
Thank you to our reader for the question.
Krista Yetzke is a native of Ottawa County. A jeep-driving, guitar-playing wife, mom, and everyday adventurer, Krista was raised on the love of Jesus, the great outdoors, the arts, the value of frugality, and the beauty of food as medicine.
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