Over 200 public schools in North Carolina have been granted an exemption from a new federal rule aimed at expanding discrimination protections for transgender students. A preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge in Kansas has prevented the Biden Administration from enforcing the rule, which bans discrimination in schools based on sexual orientation or gender identity. The injunction, covering schools associated with Moms for Liberty and two other opposing groups, affects more than 2,000 schools in 45 states, with 205 schools in North Carolina, including 54 in Wake County, being listed. Moms for Liberty opposes what they consider as schools indoctrinating students and has submitted the extensive list to the court. Last year, the Southern Poverty Law Center labeled Moms for Liberty as an "anti-government extremist group."

The new rule from the U.S. Department of Education seeks to broaden sexual discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ students by expanding Title IX, the law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs with federal funding since 1972. School districts, including Wake County, have updated their policies to comply with the change before its scheduled enforcement on August 1. Despite ongoing litigation surrounding the matter, the State Department of Public Instruction stated that the implementation of Title IX lies with the districts and encouraged them to work with legal counsel on next steps. Multiple federal judges have blocked enforcement of the new rule in 21 states, but North Carolina is not among them. However, individual schools in North Carolina are covered by an injunction issued by U.S. District Court Judge John Broomes, affecting schools with members of Moms for Liberty, the Young America's Foundation, and Female Athletes United. The representation of North Carolina schools on the list varies across districts, with some already having policies protecting sexual orientation and gender but being subject to the injunction.