Texas AG launches investigation into school districts after AIM exposes transgender sports ‘loophole’
February 6, 2025
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into the Dallas and Irving independent school districts after an undercover report by Accuracy in Media (AIM) alleged that school officials were helping parents circumvent the state’s transgender sports ban.
The investigation follows AIM’s exposé, which captured administrators discussing ways to bypass the 2021 Texas law requiring student-athletes to compete based on their biological sex.
“Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has requested extensive documentation from Dallas Independent School District (DISD) and Irving Independent School District (IISD) to determine whether the districts are allowing male students to compete in girls’ sports,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement.
“The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) sent letters to the superintendents of both districts after reports surfaced suggesting that school officials had given parents guidance that could indicate a policy of circumventing state laws protecting women’s athletics.”
AIM’s investigation revealed that an Irving ISD administrator suggested that parents could use out-of-state birth certificate modifications to enroll transgender students under a different gender.
“It’s not illegal if you don’t get caught, right?” an AIM investigator captured the administrator saying on hidden camera.
The investigation also exposed similar comments from officials in other districts, who allegedly implied that enforcing the law was not a priority.
When confronted, Irving ISD officials denied the allegations. However, Reny Lizardo, executive director of campus operations, resigned following the report.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reacted to the findings, calling for swift action.
“This Irving ISD administrator should be fired on the spot,” Abbott wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The controversy has drawn national attention, with outlets including Fox News, The Dallas Morning News, CBS Austin, and The Dallas Observer covering the investigation.
Paxton’s probe is expected to determine whether other Texas school districts are engaging in similar practices.
AIM officials say the investigation is just the beginning.
“The problem isn’t just one or two administrators—it’s systemic,” an AIM spokesperson said.
Supporters of school choice argue that such investigations reinforce the need for education reform. They say giving parents greater control over where their children attend school is the only way to prevent districts from circumventing state laws.
The attorney general’s office has not provided a timeline for its findings.