Title IX Compliance

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What is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. Title IX 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[.]

Title IX applies, with a few specific exceptions, to all aspects of federally funded education programs or activities, including all of the operations of educational institutions that receive Federal financial assistance, as well as any education or training programs operated by any other recipient of Federal financial assistance.

Examples of the types of discrimination that are covered under Title IX include but are not limited to: sex-based harassment; sexual violence; pregnancy discrimination; the failure to provide equal athletic opportunity; sex-based discrimination in a school’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses and programs; discriminatory application of dress code policies and/or enforcement; and retaliation.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

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Title IX Coordinator

As part of their obligations under Title IX, all recipients of Federal financial assistance must designate at least one employee to coordinate their efforts to comply with and carry out their responsibilities under Title IX and must notify all students and employees of that employee’s contact information. This employee is generally referred to as the Title IX coordinator. The responsibilities of the Title IX coordinator include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Oversee publication of the annual and continuous notices
  • Coordinate the prompt and impartial resolution of complaints made by students, employees, or other individuals who are participating or attempting to participate in the recipient's education program or activity, or by the Title IX Coordinator, alleging any action that would be prohibited by Title IX
  • Receive training related to Title IX and sex discrimination
  • Maintain records for each complaint alleging sex discrimination, documenting the informal resolution process or grievance procedures and resulting outcome for a period of seven years

For more information about the Title IX Coordinator role and responsibilities, see 34 C.F.R. Part 106.8.

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Resources

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