New York State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa on Tuesday tossed out bathroom and locker-room resolutions passed by the Massapequa and Locust Valley school boards, ruling that the measures unlawfully discriminated against transgender students. Rosa ordered both districts to let students use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity, effectively wiping the policies off the books.
In a written decision issued Tuesday, Rosa sided with the New York Civil Liberties Union, which had appealed on behalf of a Massapequa student, and concluded that the local resolutions conflicted with state civil-rights and education laws. The policies, adopted last fall, would have required students to use restrooms and locker rooms based only on the sex listed at birth, according to reporting by The New York Times.
Rosa wrote that board members had disregarded state law and had deprived students "of the dignity to which they are entitled," language that quickly echoed in local coverage. News 12 Long Island reported that the commissioner formally annulled the resolutions and ordered the districts to restore access to facilities aligned with students' gender identity.
Districts Say They'll Review the Order
Both Massapequa and Locust Valley issued statements saying they were reviewing the commissioner's decision with their attorneys and insisted they remain committed to student safety while they weigh their options. The Massapequa board had already filed a federal lawsuit after state officials previously blocked its policy, and Locust Valley was later added as a related party in the appeal, according to Long Island Press. The districts have also said they will keep offering gender-neutral bathrooms and locker rooms to any students who prefer them, Patch reported.
What’s Next Legally
The decision is widely expected to be tested in federal court as the districts push arguments that federal law or executive guidance could override state rules, while state officials lean on New York statutes that bar discrimination based on gender identity. When the boards adopted the resolutions, they cited President Trump’s January 2025 executive order on gender policy, the text of which appears on the White House site at The White House. National coverage has highlighted how the fight over how Title IX applies to transgender students has turned into a broader, ongoing legal brawl.
Why It Matters for Students and Families
Parents of the Massapequa student told reporters that the district's policy left their child anxious, depressed and suicidal, a detail that became central to the NYCLU's appeal and Rosa's ruling. As reported by The New York Times, advocates say the decision enforces New York protections including GENDA and the Dignity for All Students Act and could discourage other districts from trying similar policies.
For now, the order blocks the Massapequa and Locust Valley boards from enforcing their bathroom bans while any appeals play out, and it serves as a warning shot to other districts about the legal and reputational risks of passing such measures. Families and school communities should expect more legal filings in the months ahead as the dispute moves through courts and administrative channels.
