The administrative rule changes in 2020 created a serious impact on educational access for sexual harassment survivors as well as imposing unfair and cumbersome procedures for making a complaint. The Gender Equity in Education Action would reinforce the original intent of Title IX legislation by restoring the previous definition of sexual harassment as unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature. The law also prohibited retaliation for filing a Title IX complaint or for advocating for those making a complaint. Title IX required recipients of federal education funding to evaluate their policies and practices, adopt and publish a policy against sex discrimination and implement a grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of student and employee discrimination complaints. Now, multiple gender equity and civil rights organizations, including the American Association of University Women, are calling on Congress to pass the Gender Equity in Education Act which would codify protections designed to address sex discrimination, sexual orientation and gender identity among the prohibited categories of discrimination and segregation in all areas of education, as well as ensure educational institutions have the resources needed to comply with Title IX regulations. That has not been the case, however, in vigorous enforcement of protection from sex discrimination in cases dealing with harassment, sexual orientation, and gender identity.įurther, the Trump administration weakened the legislation when it worked to systematically dismantle Title IX protections, rescinding multiple important guidance documents in 2017 and releasing a new rule in 2020 with significant harmful implications for students’ civil rights and federal enforcement. Title IX has seemingly been wildly successful in opening opportunities for women and girls in sports and education to the point that young athletes, when asked what Title IX means to them, are oblivious to what it was like for their mothers and grandmothers. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is responsible for the implementation and enforcement of Title IX, its regulations, and its guidance. The law was passed as part of the 1972 Education Amendments and states "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." The U.S. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in all areas of education, protecting students and staff in any educational institution that receives federal funds. But the value of Title IX legislation is so much more than that. June 23 marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX legislation being adopted.Įveryone who pays any attention to any kind of sport or STEM education knows what Title IX means. Lucille Howard is Charlotte public policy chair for American Association of University Women.