The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced Tuesday that it is investigating whether the Maryland State Department of Education and several local school districts violated Title IX by having policies permitting transgender students to participate in athletics.

Public schools in Frederick, Montgomery and Prince George’s counties allow students to use restrooms, access changing facilities, play on sports teams and participate in physical education classes aligned with their gender identity. Each county has policies for sleeping arrangements on overnight trips that are meant to prevent transgender or gender-diverse students from feeling isolated and to protect their privacy.

The Office for Civil Rights said its investigation was prompted by a complaint it received about these policies.

“The practice of allowing students to access sex-separated programs and facilities based solely on self-asserted ‘gender identity’ is deeply troubling and raises significant legal concerns,” Kimberly Richey, assistant secretary for the Office for Civil Rights, said in a news release. “We will fully investigate these allegations and take appropriate action to ensure compliance with federal law.”

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The office is also investigating school districts in Michigan and North Carolina for alleged Title IX violations and has issued warning letters to school districts in Colorado and Kansas for similar issues.

The investigation into the Maryland school districts comes as the Supreme Court considers whether state officials can regulate gender identity in school sports competitions. Legislation was introduced in Maryland’s General Assembly this year to ensure students participate on sports teams and use facilities that align with their biological sex, but it went nowhere.

“MCPS remains committed to providing safe, welcoming and inclusive learning environments for all students and to complying with applicable federal and Maryland laws and regulations,” Liliana Lopez, a spokesperson for Montgomery County Public Schools, said in an email.

Prince George’s County Public Schools officials referred The Banner to state representatives, while officials from Frederick County did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

“The Maryland State Department of Education remains committed to supporting all students and upholding the law,” said Raven Hill, a department spokesperson.