Pennsylvania High School Sports Authority Adopts Biological Sex Standard, Aligned with Federal Order

HARRISBURG, PA – The governing body for interscholastic athletics in Pennsylvania has revised its policy regarding participation in sports, formally adopting a standard based on biological sex. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) announced the immediate removal of its existing Transgender policy, citing the need to align with federal directives, specifically referencing an executive order from President Donald Trump.

Approved during a PIAA board meeting held on February 19, 2025, the policy modification centers on the Mixed Gender Participation section of the association’s constitution and bylaws. The revised language eliminates references to “gender,” replacing them with explicit references to a student athlete’s biological sex.

Mandate and Federal Alignment

The PIAA’s decision is a direct response to aligning with President Trump’s executive action, titled “Keeping Men Out of Women’s Sports.” Executive Order 1420, as it is officially designated, stipulates guidelines concerning participation in sports based on biological sex, particularly in contexts receiving federal funding. The PIAA’s move is intended to ensure the association and its member schools comply with the federal order.

The updated PIAA policy now states that eligibility for sports participation will be determined by a student’s biological sex. In situations where a student’s sex is questioned, the policy delegates the initial determination to the student’s school. The PIAA will accept the school’s finding in such cases.

Crucially, the revised policy includes a mandate requiring member schools to consult with their legal counsel. This step is intended to ensure that individual school districts are fully compliant with the requirements set forth in Executive Order 1420. The directive underscores the potential legal and financial implications for schools that do not adhere to the federal mandate.

Reactions and Legislative Context

The policy change was met with approval from proponents of policies centered on biological sex in sports. Jeremy Samek, senior counsel at the Independence Law Center, issued a statement commending the PIAA’s action.

Samek described the decision as “an important step in restoring safety, fairness, and opportunity in girls’ sports.” He also used the occasion to advocate for state-level legislation, encouraging Pennsylvania lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 9. This bill, like the federal executive order and the new PIAA policy, seeks to enshrine biological sex as the basis for participation in school sports, particularly for female athletic categories.

Implications for Schools and Related Legal Challenges

While the PIAA’s policy now aligns with the federal order, the implementation requires action at the local level. Individual school districts across Pennsylvania must also update their own internal policies and procedures to reflect the PIAA’s revised stance and, more critically, to ensure direct compliance with Executive Order 1420. Failure to align local policies with the federal mandate could jeopardize the school districts’ eligibility for vital federal funding.

The landscape surrounding transgender athlete participation in sports remains complex and is subject to ongoing legal and political debate across the United States. The PIAA’s policy update occurs amidst this broader national conversation.

Notably, the article providing the original summary of the PIAA’s decision also referenced a separate, but related, legal action. A lawsuit has been filed by three former swimmers from the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). This lawsuit seeks to invalidate the records set by former UPenn swimmer Lia Thomas, who is transgender. The former teammates allege that their rights under Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding, were violated by allowing Thomas to compete in the women’s category.

This lawsuit, while distinct from the PIAA’s policy change regarding high school sports, highlights the multifaceted legal challenges and differing interpretations of federal law, including Title IX and executive orders like 1420, when applied to the complex issue of athletic eligibility for transgender individuals.

Looking Ahead

The PIAA’s immediate policy change establishes a new standard for interscholastic sports in Pennsylvania based on biological sex, directly linking state-level athletic governance to federal executive directives. The requirement for schools to seek legal counsel underscores the potential legal complexities involved.

As school districts across the state navigate the process of updating their policies and ensuring compliance, and as state-level legislative efforts like Senate Bill 9 continue, the future of athletic eligibility rules in Pennsylvania may see further developments, potentially influenced by ongoing court cases and shifts in policy at both the state and federal levels.