TEXAS, USA — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said his office has requested “an extensive list of documents” from both Dallas ISD and Irving ISD “to ensure that the districts are not allowing boys to compete in girls’ sports.”
In a press release from Paxton’s office, he said letters were sent to the superintendents of both districts “after the office was made aware that officials at Dallas and Irving ISD had given parents alarming recommendations that could potentially reflect an unstated policy of not upholding Texas state law protecting women’s athletics.”
The request comes after a conservative activist group, Accuracy in Media, filmed and published videos of Dallas and Irving ISD administrators without their knowledge.
According to Paxton’s press release, a Dallas ISD administrator was filmed saying a male student would be allowed to participate in girls’ sports if the parent changed the birth certificate of their son to “female.” The release also claimed she said that the district “find[s] the loopholes in everything” and that she is willing to go to jail for defying Texas law.
An Irving ISD administrator was filmed saying that a male student could play women’s sports if the parents changed the male student’s birth certificate to “female,” according to Paxton’s letter. Gov. Abbott has previously called for a probe into Irving ISD after the video was posted by a conservative activist group, Accuracy in Media, and went viral online.
The administrator later resigned after Gov. Abbott called for him to be fired, WFAA previously reported. Irving ISD later released a statement disputing the content of the video and claimed the video was not a complete representation of the conversation.
“The videos were obtained under false pretenses by an individual who posed as a concerned parent and additional individuals who posed as family friends of the employee pictured,” Irving ISD previously said in a statement referencing the viral video. “Nevertheless, we want to reiterate that Irving ISD complies with all state and federal laws and all employees are expected to adhere to any and all legal and ethical standards. The message conveyed in the video, as presented, does not reflect the views nor policies of the district.”
WFAA reached out to both Dallas ISD and Irving ISD for comment regarding Paxton’s document requests.
Irving ISD issued the following statement on Thursday:
As stated in previous correspondence, Irving ISD is committed to upholding the requirements of state and federal laws, including HB 25, especially as it pertains to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students. We will comply with any request for documentation initiated by relevant authorities.
We want to reiterate that the subject matter in the inquiry from the Texas Office of the Attorney General has not been at issue for the district to this point. We can confirm that all Irving ISD student-athletes are participating in their sport in accordance with the sex they were assigned at birth.
Individual employees do not speak on behalf of the district. The individual identified in the video captured under false pretenses was acting outside of his role as it relates to legal and regulatory expertise and did not have the decision-making authority to effectively circumvent state law. While the matter continues to be under investigation, the individual identified in the video tendered his resignation, as previously reported. The resignation was accepted upon receipt in accordance with district policy.
Irving ISD is unwavering in our commitment to the safety and well-being of all of our students and staff. We remain focused on our primary function to maintain educational excellence and foster the full potential of our students.
Dallas ISD issued the following statement on Thursday:
“Dallas ISD will continue to support and uphold all laws as required by the state, including HB 25. We remain committed to serving a diverse population supported by our mission of educating all students for success.”
“The idea of school district officials turning their backs on female students and sacrificing the integrity of women’s athletics to advance the radical transgender agenda is disgusting, but that seems to be exactly what occurred here,” said Attorney General Paxton. “Any systematic effort by a school district to sidestep state law and allow biological boys to play in girls’ sports in Texas will be rooted out, and my office will explore all avenues to hold those responsible to account.”
To read the letters to Dallas ISD and Irving ISD, click here.