After hearing arguments both for and against the move, the Gloucester School Board adopted a highly controversial policy Tuesday night that limits the use of restrooms and locker rooms to corresponding biological genders and requires alternative private facilities for transgender students.

The policy was immediately challenged by both the ACLU of Virginia and Equality Virginia, with both groups claiming the policy violates Title IX of the U.S. Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits schools that receive federal funds from discriminating on the basis of sex.

The issue arose in October when a transgender student at Gloucester High School, who is female but self-identifies as a male, requested to use the boys’ restrooms. The request was granted by the GHS administration but the school board, when informed of the decision, decided it may need to establish guidelines to address such matters.

In the board’s November meeting, member Carla Hook moved that it adopt a policy...