The decision, made at the board's regular meeting, authorizes the district to challenge the initiative as it applies to Seattle schools. The vote came just days after Washington voters approved the measure, which was among the most closely watched education-related ballot questions in the country this year.

The board did not release details Monday about the specific legal grounds it intends to argue or the timeline for filing. But the authorization signals that Seattle, the state's largest school district, is preparing to resist a law that supporters say protects fairness in women's athletics and that opponents argue discriminates against transgender students and exposes schools to legal risk.

The initiative's passage has left districts across Washington weighing how to implement the new rules, which apply to girls' interscholastic sports. Seattle's board action makes it the first major district to formally move toward a court challenge.

The vote is likely to intensify a debate that has divided communities nationally and drawn intense scrutiny to school boards. Supporters of the ban have framed it as a safeguard for female athletes; critics, including LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and many progressive officials, contend it singles out a small group of students and conflicts with anti-discrimination protections.

Seattle Public Schools serves roughly 50,000 students. The board's decision to authorize litigation does not immediately change how the district handles athletic eligibility; rather, it opens a path for the district to seek a court ruling on the initiative's validity or application.

Board members have not yet said whether the district will seek an injunction to block enforcement while a case proceeds. District officials could not be reached late Monday for additional comment on the scope of the planned legal action.

The measure's approval statewide came despite Washington's Democratic leanings, a result that supporters of transgender rights have described as a setback and that opponents of the ban have vowed to contest in court. Seattle's action is likely to become a test case for how far local districts can go in refusing to enforce a state initiative.

Legal experts have noted that school districts generally must follow state law, but they can challenge a law's constitutionality or seek clarification on how it applies to local policies. The Seattle board's vote authorizes that kind of challenge but does not guarantee a lawsuit will be filed.

The board's decision also carries political weight: Seattle is a heavily Democratic city, and its school board has often taken progressive stances on issues such as equity and inclusion. Monday's vote aligns with that record and could pressure other districts to take similar positions.

For families in Seattle, the immediate practical effect is uncertain. Transgender students currently participating in school sports will remain subject to existing district policies until any legal action or state guidance changes the landscape. The district has not announced any changes to its athletic eligibility rules in response to the initiative.

The board is expected to discuss next steps at future meetings, including whether to retain outside counsel. Any lawsuit would likely be filed in state or federal court in Washington.