With federal financial aid for two-thirds of its students and nearly $200 million in research grants at stake, San Jose State University sued the U.S. Department of Education on Friday, accusing the agency of unlawfully threatening to cut off funding over the school’s decision to allow a transgender volleyball player to compete.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose by the California State University system, escalates a highly publicized dispute between the school and federal officials over how Title IX applies to transgender athletes.

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