Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 being signed into law. Title IX prohibits sex-based discrimination in any school or any other education program that receives funding from the federal government. Specifically, it states:
No person in the United States shall, based on 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 opened the door to scores of opportunities for women, the LGBTQ+ community and others in classrooms, athletic fields, and other school-based activities throughout the country.
While AACTE celebrates this historic milestone, we also recognize that more must be done to achieve full equality in our schools and universities. Unfortunately, we are seeing a concerted effort to water down the provisions of Title IX, putting the progress made under the law in jeopardy and lives in danger.
The Biden Administration is currently working to update the rules enforcing the provisions of Title IX to ensure that all students, regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, or gender identity, have a safe and supportive learning environment to achieve their academic dreams. AACTE urges the Administration to issue guidelines that are as inclusive as possible to ensure students are protected by law from hostile behavior from teachers and/or classmates.
Tags: diversity, equity, federal issues, inclusion, safety
