DALE CITY, Va. — For 16-year-old Eleanor Bowling, being able to use the girls’ bathroom at Colgan High School is more than a policy — it’s a matter of safety and dignity.

“Without these policies in place, I don’t know if I would be sitting here today,” Eleanor said. “That sucks for me.”

Eleanor is a transgender student who might potentially be affected by new federal pressure on five Northern Virginia school districts, including Prince William County, to revise policies that allow students to use restrooms aligned with their gender identity. The U.S. Department of Education argues the policies violate Title IX protections, citing concerns about privacy and safety.

A deadline to comply was scheduled for next Friday.

However, for Eleanor and her father, Adam Bowling, the policies hav

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