Finalization of the Department of Education’s Title IX ruling that would strike down statewide prohibitions on transgender athletes participating in a sport that matched their identity is expected to occur next year. An updated page on the Office of Management and Budget says final action on the federal government's rule on how transgender students can play on sports teams that match their gender identity is expected in March, months after it was initially anticipated in October. As Chalkboard reported last week, the Department said the finalization was delayed because of the large number of comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking and that it is working “overtime” to get through the comments.