The Kennewick School Board voted 4-0 to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, alleging that state education officials violated President Trump's executive order and Title IX by allowing transgender athletes to compete in women's sports.

On March 28, 2025, the Kennewick School Board filed a federal complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, demanding that the state adhere to the Trump administration’s policies on transgender athletes. The complaint, which cites Title IX violations and conflicts between state law and federal directives, underscores the board's alignment with restrictions impacting transgender rights in school athletics.

On March 28, 2025, the Kennewick School Board filed a federal complaint against the state and state education officials, protesting state policy on transgender athletes. The complaint argues that adhering to state law risks federal funding, forcing the board to align with the Trump administration's directives which restrict transgender participation in female sports.

The Kennewick School Board filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education over Washington state policies regarding transgender students' access to locker rooms and participation in girls' sports. The board, amid internal divisions and political pressure related to conflicting state non-discrimination laws and Trump’s executive orders, aims to clarify Title IX protections and secure federal funding.

The Kennewick School Board filed a federal complaint challenging state-mandated policies that allow students assigned male at birth to compete in girls' sports and use women's locker rooms, raising concerns about the exclusion of transgender students.

Kennewick School Board filed a formal Title IX Civil Rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights against Washington state officials. The board's complaint argues that state policies allowing biologically male students to participate in female athletics and mandated changes to transgender policies violate Title IX and conflict with President Trump’s executive orders, potentially risking federal funding.

On February 20, 2024, the Kennewick School Board passed a resolution opposing two controversial Washington state bills aimed at promoting curricula inclusive of historically marginalized groups. The board argued that the legislation would undermine local control and parental rights, a position that has drawn criticism from community members and former educators who assert that the move conflicts with the school district's commitment to diversity and inclusion.

In the 2023 election cycle, the Kennewick School Board is poised for a conservative realignment as moderate voices step aside, paving the way for hard-right candidates. The emerging board is expected to adopt policies that restrict diverse viewpoints in classroom materials and symbols, including controversial flag displays and debates over curriculum content such as 'Antiracist Baby'. This shift is further underscored by endorsements from local Republican organizations and actions that have previously targeted measures seen as promoting critical race theory.

Kennewick School District has implemented a new policy to open collective bargaining negotiations with teacher unions to public oversight. The policy mandates that documents and negotiation sessions be publicly posted, thereby increasing transparency and accountability in contract negotiations.

The Kennewick School District has filed an injunction to force teachers back to work despite pushback from the teachers' union, indicating a contentious labor dispute and an authoritarian approach to managing worker dissent.

During the February 14, 2023 special election, the Kennewick School District was found to have violated state election laws by distributing communications that implied support for a $72 million operations levy. The Public Disclosure Commission fined the district $600 and required the superintendent to sign a statement of understanding following findings that its advertisements, mailers, website content, and social media posts exceeded neutral, fact-based information and promoted partisan support.

On August 30, 2019, Kennewick teachers voted overwhelmingly to accept a two‐year contract that ended a prolonged strike, while the Kennewick School Board faced criticism for filing an injunction and allegations of misusing technology by remotely accessing union negotiators' computer.

Following a prolonged teachers strike in Kennewick, nearly 99.5% of union members voted to end the strike and accept a tentative two‐year agreement with the Kennewick School Board. The deal, reached on August 29, includes improved wages, insurance, and adjustments to the pay scale for teachers. Initially, the school board sought an injunction to force teachers back to work and initiated legal actions, but these were dropped following the union’s overwhelming support for the agreement.