Chicago Public Schools CEO Macquline King defended the district’s policies before members of Congress after being subpoenaed to testify at a hearing largely focused on transgender students and parental rights.
King repeatedly emphasized that Chicago Public Schools (CPS) policies comply with Illinois law during the June 10 hearing by the U.S. House education committee, where King and education leaders from San Francisco and Virginia were called to testify.
Republican lawmakers spent hours grilling the school leaders about transgender students’ access to bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations, while Democrats argued Congress was focused on culture wars instead of bread-and-butter issues like funding cuts, academic outcomes and other challenges facing public schools.
“These are real material concerns that demand action from Congress. That’s why I’m disappointed that the majority has once again decided to ignore the concerns of parents and instead focus on divisive culture wars with the hope of scoring cheap political points,” said U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott, a Democrat from Virginia and the ranking member of the committee.
The hearing comes amid escalating federal scrutiny of LGBTQ+-inclusive school policies and diversity initiatives. In a letter subpoenaing King to testify, committee chairman Tim Walberg, a Republican from Michigan, said the hearing would help lawmakers evaluate the “effectiveness of federal spending” and determine whether additional legislation is needed.
The Trump administration has already withheld more than $20 million from CPS after the district refused to end its Black Student Success Plan, which aims to reduce racial disparities in academics, discipline and representation while improving outcomes for Black students.
Republican lawmakers questioned King about transgender students’ access to bathrooms, locker rooms and overnight accommodations; district guidance on student privacy and parental notification; religious objections to LGBTQ+-inclusive policies; and sexual health materials available to students.
Throughout much of the questioning, King returned to the same point: CPS policies are designed to comply with Illinois law and district guidelines.
Before fielding questions from lawmakers, King used her opening statement to highlight improvements in graduation rates, attendance and academic outcomes while reiterating that CPS policies are designed to comply with state and federal law.
“Chicago schools reflect the very best of our nation and our city, diverse, dynamic and strengthened by people of different backgrounds, cultures, languages and faiths,” King said. “Our classrooms are not homogeneous—they are vibrant communities where students learn alongside peers whose lived experiences may differ from their own.”
U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, an Illinois Republican, repeatedly questioned King about district policies related to transgender students, accusing CPS of withholding information from parents and violating their rights.
King rejected that characterization, saying CPS does not hide information from parents. She said the district works to balance student privacy protections with its obligations under Illinois law and emphasized that parents continue to have access to their children’s educational records.
Throughout the hearing, Republican members repeatedly rejected distinctions between sex assigned at birth and gender identity, referring to transgender girls as “biological males” and transgender boys as “biological females” while questioning school policies that recognize transgender students’ identities.
The questioning also extended beyond transgender issues. Walberg pressed King on whether teachers must set aside their religious beliefs to work in CPS, including whether educators who believe marriage is between a man and a woman are welcome in the district. King responded that CPS does not require employees to abandon their personal beliefs but does expect staff members to follow district policies and applicable laws.
Republican lawmakers occasionally turned combative in their questioning, including U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain, a Michigan Republican, who called Loudoun County, Virginia, Supt. Aaron Spence “extremely weak” and “pathetic” after he defended his district’s transgender student policies.
Democratic lawmakers largely used their time to challenge the premise of the hearing, arguing that schools face far more pressing issues than the topics dominating Republican questioning.
U.S. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, an Oregon Democrat, asked the school leaders what concerns parents raise most often in their districts. None cited transgender students or school bathroom policies.
“The top concern for Chicago Public Schools parents at this time are cuts that could impact the classroom, which could impact their child’s education,” King said.
Similar criticisms were voiced before the hearing during a livestreamed press conference led by U.S. Rep. Delia Ramirez, whose district includes parts of Chicago served by CPS.
“Instead of debating how much more funding they’re going to put into our public schools, instead of having a healthy conversation on how they make sure our students have every single resource they need to thrive, you know what they’re doing? They’re coming for school districts that prioritize the wellbeing of and care for diverse children,” Ramirez said.
Among those joining Ramirez at the press conference was CPS parent Mary Kay Devine, whose transgender daughter recently graduated from a Chicago public high school.
Devine said her daughter’s teachers used her chosen name, classmates accepted her and she graduated with honors. She argued the policies Republicans criticized during the hearing helped create a safe and supportive school environment.
“If lawmakers truly cared about our kids, they should focus on preventing school shootings, not what bathroom my daughter uses,” Devine said.