Hofmeister calls federal directive on school bathroom use “outrageous overreach”

OKLAHOMA CITY — State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister made commented last week after the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Education issued a joint directive regarding bathrooms in public schools and use by transgender students:

“I believe this is an outrageous overreach by the federal government. It nearly defies belief that the Obama Administration now wants to direct how Oklahoma schools and districts operate our bathrooms. Furthermore, I find it disturbing that this ‘joint guidance’ carries an implicit threat of loss of federal funds. In the midst of a historic funding crisis for public education, schools should not be burdened with this sort of overreach yet again.

“Educators have a responsibility to ensure that every child is safe, treated with respect, and given the opportunity to learn. Oklahoma schools know the needs of our students and communities, and meeting those needs should solely remain a matter of local control.”