Education Department Wants Out of Transgender Athlete Suit

The U.S. Department of Education is asking to be kept out of a lawsuit seeking to bar Connecticut school districts from allowing transgender students to participate in girls’ sports.

The plaintiffs, backed by a conservative Christian group, allege that allowing transgender students to participate in the girls’ program amounts to discrimination against girls in violation of Title IX.

The defendants—school districts and a scholastic athletic association—have sought to join the department and Secretary Betsy DeVos as a party in the lawsuit.

Opposing that request, the department said Monday that being brought in as a party “would substantially harm ED’s interest ...