Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (34 C.F.R. Part 106) is a federal civil rights statue that prohibits discrimination of the basis of sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance, stating:

 

 

The following are examples of the types of discriminations that are covered under Title IX:  sexual harassment; the failure to provide equal opportunity in athletics; discrimination in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses and programs; and discrimination based on pregnancy and parental status.

 

Title IX requires that every public school district and charter school designate at least one employee to coordinate their efforts to comply with Title IX responsibilities, referred to as the Title IX Coordinator.   Locate your district or charter school’s Title IX Coordinator here:  ADE Data Center.

 

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the U.S. Department of Education is responsible for enforcing Title IX; however, a role of the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Compliance Assistance Center is to provide technical assistance to school systems concerning Title IX.

 

The U.S. Department of Education’s new Title IX requirements are effective Friday, August 14, 2020.  The Final Rule defines sexual harassment (including sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking) as unlawful sex discrimination, and imposes important legal obligations on school districts and charter schools.  For more information, please go to Commissioner’s Memo 21-010.