The US Department of Education is investigating a school district in Massachusetts after the district allegedly enabled a child’s gender transition without notifying her parents.

“Today, the US Department of Education’s (the Department’s) Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) launched an investigation into The Public Schools of Northborough and Southborough in Massachusetts to determine whether the school district violated the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA) and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) after reports that school officials allegedly facilitated the ‘gender transition’ of a minor student without parents’ knowledge or consent,” said a September 17 press release from the Department of Education.

“Parents have a right to know what is happening with their children at school, particularly when it concerns deeply personal matters involving their health and wellbeing,” said Frank Miller, Director of the Student Privacy Policy Office, in the press release.

Miller continued: “These egregious allegations are not an isolated problem. Families deserve answers and SPPO will thoroughly investigate reports like this and hold any educational institution that violates federal law accountable.”

The student’s parents, Joseph and Arlene Kutzko, said they have not spoken to their daughter since early 2025. She was removed from their custody in 2025 and is in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF). The two describe themselves as devout Catholics and say they do not believe a person can change genders. They claim that they lost custody for refusing to affirm their daughter’s chosen gender.

The Kutzkos allege that school personnel at Algonquin Regional High School began assisting their daughter with a “social transition” to a male and did not inform them that their daughter sought to be referred to with a male name and pronouns. They said they were under the impression she was receiving maths tutoring when she was actually receiving transition-related counselling.

Superintendent Gregory Martineau said in a public statement that the Kutzkos’ claims are “not merely baseless, but grossly insensitive, intrusive and dangerous toward the child”.

“The district unequivocally denies the claims made,” he said.

The minor girl’s parents further claim that a counsellor reported them to DCF, citing their opposition to their daughter’s social transition. The child was then removed from her parents’ home.

The Department of Education said the district may have violated federal law by failing to tell the Kutzkos about their daughter’s desire to be referred to with a male name and pronouns.

“FERPA requires schools to allow parents to access their children’s education records, make changes to those records, and provide a hearing if the school rejects the changes. PPRA requires schools to receive written consent from parents if they plan to conduct any evaluation, survey, or analysis on students regarding their or their family’s mental health, sex behaviours and attitudes, religious beliefs or any other invasive sensitive subjects outlined in the statute,” said the press release.

The Kutzkos first came forward with their story on September 13, appearing on a podcast with Fox News’ Lauren Green.

In the episode, the Kutzkos said they were determined to prevent their daughter from receiving testosterone while in DCF custody.

“The most important thing is to bring her back to our family,” Joseph Kutzko told Green. “But a shorter term goal is to prevent them from giving her testosterone.”

Additional details uncovered this week add more context to the Kutzkos’ claims. Court records shared by WBUR News show that both Arlene and Joseph were arrested in January 2025 in connection with an alleged incident at their home.

Joseph Kutzko was accused of threatening his daughter and punching her in the shoulder, which he denies. Arlene Kutzko was charged with witness intimidation.

Joseph Kutzko pleaded not guilty, and a judge ordered that his charges would be dismissed if he complied with certain conditions, including staying away from his daughter. The conditions remain in place until December 2026, according to WBUR.

The Kutzkos’ attorney says that the physical abuse allegations lack supporting evidence and claims that the minor daughter was assisted by an adult in seeking restraining orders.

“The only thing that's left is an allegation of neglect that has never been described,” said Vernadette Broyles, president of the Child & Parental Rights Campaign, an organisation supporting parental rights when it comes to gender transitions.

Broyles says she assumes this “neglect” refers to the refusal to transition the child’s gender.

A hearing in juvenile court is scheduled for late October.