Lake Tahoe School District Caught Between California Law and Nevada’s Transgender Athlete Rules

The Tahoe‑Truckee Unified School District — long a member of Nevada’s high school sports league to avoid hazardous winter travel — now faces a legal and logistical dilemma after the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) adopted a policy requiring students in sex‑segregated sports to compete based on the sex assigned at birth. California law, by contrast, allows students to play on teams consistent with their gender identity, and the California Department of Education has ordered the district to join the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) by the start of the next school year.

A Cross‑State Conflict

For decades, the two Tahoe‑Truckee high schools have competed in the NIAA to reduce long and potentially dangerous winter trips across the Sierra. The NIAA vote in April replaced a previous approach that left eligibility decisions to individual schools, setting up a direct conflict with California’s statewide policy on transgender student athletes.

District Caught in the Middle

District Superintendent Kerstin Kramer told the school board that the directive forces the district into an impossible choice.

“No matter which authority we’re complying with we are leaving students behind,” Kramer said. “So we have been stuck.”

Officials told the state they know of no transgender athletes currently competing on Tahoe‑Truckee high school teams, but Kramer said a former student filed a complaint with the California Department of Education in June after the board initially voted to remain with Nevada athletics.

Broader Legal and Political Context

The local dispute is part of a larger national debate over the rights of transgender youth. At least two dozen states have enacted measures restricting transgender girls’ participation in girls’ sports, and some policies are being challenged in court. At the federal level, an executive order in February sought to exclude transgender women and girls from female athletics, and in July the U.S. Department of Justice sued the California Department of Education, arguing California’s policy violates federal law.

Meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom — a supporter of protections for transgender youth — drew criticism in March after questioning the fairness of trans women and girls competing against other female athletes. His office said Newsom rejects efforts to vilify individual children.

Voices From the Community

At a recent school board meeting, some parents and students expressed concerns about fairness and safety. Truckee High School track athlete Ava Cockrum said she believes a biologically male competitor would have physical advantages.

“I don’t see how it would be fair for female athletes to compete against a biological male because they’re stronger, they’re taller, they’re faster,” Cockrum said.

By contrast, civil rights attorney Beth Curtis, whose children attended Tahoe‑Truckee schools, urged the district to challenge the NIAA policy as potentially violating the Nevada Constitution.

Practical Concerns: Travel and Safety

Tahoe‑Truckee’s high schools sit at roughly 6,000 feet (1,800 meters) in elevation and typically compete against teams in both states. District officials warn that joining the CIF could require more frequent trips over a high mountain pass of about 7,000 feet (2,100 meters), increasing the risk of hazardous winter travel and longer travel times for student‑athletes.

Timeline and Next Steps

After the state ordered the district to take action, Tahoe‑Truckee submitted a plan to transition into the California federation by the 2028–2029 school year and is awaiting a response from the California Department of Education. Civil rights advocates expect state officials — who are defending California’s policy in federal court — may be reluctant to allow a long delay in enforcement.

Wider Implications

Other border districts have faced similar questions. Coleville High School, in the Eastern Sierra, remains a long‑time NIAA member but follows California law on transgender athletes, according to Eastern Sierra Unified Superintendent Heidi Torix. State Assemblymember Heather Hadwick warned officials to consider practical factors such as geography, weather and student safety when deciding whether to require districts to switch leagues.

The Tahoe‑Truckee case illustrates how state policies on transgender rights can ripple into everyday decisions about school sports, travel logistics and community debate as courts and agencies continue to sort out competing laws and regulations.