The U.S. Department of Education announced on Tuesday an investigation into claims that a Denver school district high school teacher required same-sex students to kiss in front of a class, and that a district in Washington state displayed testosterone vials during a Pride Month exhibit.

The department will look into whether Bethel School District, located about an hour south of Seattle, and Denver Public Schools violated a federal law granting parents the right to opt their children out of school assessments concerning sexual behavior or attitudes.

“Parents should make decisions on matters affecting the most intimate parts of their children’s lives,” stated Frank Miller, director of the Student Privacy Policy Office at the Department of Education, in a statement. Denver schools spokesperson Scott Pribble mentioned that the district was finalizing a response and has not yet commented.

The Bethel School District stated that the vials in a high school display at Graham-Kapowsin in June were not authorized by school administrators and were immediately removed and handed over to the Pierce County police department.

Testosterone is prescribed for gender-affirming care. The district added that it will fully cooperate with the Department of Education’s investigation. Both districts are in states governed by Democrats, while former President Donald Trump is a Republican.

The Trump administration initiated numerous investigations into schools accommodating transgender and LGBTQ+ students, often targeting districts that allow students to use restrooms aligning with their gender identities. Last year, it accused Denver schools of violating Title IX protections against sex discrimination due to such a restroom policy.

Trump officials also pressured schools accused of keeping students’ gender identities confidential from parents, which the department claimed violated federal privacy laws. The Department of Education linked the new investigations to National Parents Day, celebrated on Sunday, stating that it will announce “significant actions” concerning parental rights laws enforcement over the week.

The exhibit at Bethel district high school contained some vials with a “small amount of unknown liquid,” according to the district. It is unclear if the liquid was tested and confirmed as testosterone. District spokesperson Doug Boyles directed inquiries to the Pierce County police department. An email sent to a spokesperson for the office, officer Carly Cappetto, has not received a response.

The district noted in its statement that it is reviewing protocols for monitoring displays to “ensure all school materials strictly align with our educational standards and community expectations.” It added, “Our primary focus remains on maintaining a safe, respectful, and student-centered learning environment for all our students.”

AP journalist Collin Binkley contributed to this report from Washington D.C.

This story was translated from English by an AP editor using a generative AI tool.