Mark Earley Jr., a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, has expressed concerns over school boards prioritizing gender ideology at the expense of Title IX compliance. He said on X that such actions fail to protect student safety and privacy.
“It is sad & shocking that some of these school boards are so invested in radical gender ideology,” said Earley Jr., House Representative. “They refuse to comply with Title IX. And protect the safety, privacy, & dignity of girls. Completely unacceptable.”
The U.S. Department of Education’s Title IX guidance prohibits discrimination based on gender identity under federal law, requiring schools to allow transgender students access to facilities that align with their gender identity. In August 2025, the Department reported that five Northern Virginia school districts were found in violation of this policy and warned they could lose federal funding if they do not comply.
According to Politico, these five Virginia school districts were classified as “high-risk” by the U.S. Department of Education in 2025 due to their policies on transgender facility access. This classification potentially jeopardizes more than $50 million in federal education funds. The designation came after multiple Title IX complaints and official investigations concerning restroom and locker room access.
Education Week reports that compliance with Title IX’s gender identity provisions is inconsistent across the United States. By mid-2025, several states had directed districts to defy the new federal rule, while others revised district policies to ensure alignment with it, highlighting a national divide on the issue.
Earley’s campaign website describes him as a Republican candidate for Virginia’s House of Delegates representing District 73. He is an attorney and foster parent who previously served in the Virginia Attorney General’s Office. His campaign platform focuses on education reform, parental rights, public safety, and protecting female-only spaces in schools.
