Title IX

Federal Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), implemented at 34 C.F.R. § 106.31, subd. (a), provides that no person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other education program or activity operated by a recipient which receives federal financial assistance.  Relevant here, Title IX requires school districts to take immediate and appropriate action to investigate when it knows or reasonably should know of a possible Title IX violation.

 

Deborah Brill, Executive Director of Student Services, is the Title IX Coordinator and compliance officer for the Albany Unified School District, and can be reached by telephone at (510) 558-3771 or by email at [email protected].

 

Student complaints shall be submitted in written form in accordance with Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 5145.3 – Nondiscrimination, Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying.  If the complainant is unable to prepare the complaint in writing, administrative staff shall help him/her to do so.

Complaints must be filed within six months from the date when the alleged unlawful discrimination occurred, or from the date the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying that is based on sex. 

All complaints shall be appropriately investigated in a timely manner. Within 10 business days after the compliance officer receives the complaint, the compliance officer shall begin an investigation into the complaint.  The investigation shall include an opportunity for the complainant, or the complainant’s representative, or both, to present the compliance officer with any evidence, or information leading to evidence, to support the allegations in the complaint.  The District shall issue a written decision based on the evidence within 60 calendar days from receipt of the written complaint by the District, unless an extension is appropriate pursuant to District policy. 

Any complainant who is dissatisfied with the District’s final written decision may file an appeal in writing with the California Department of Education within 15 calendar days of receiving the District’s decision.

Complaints made by or on behalf of students may also be filed with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights within 180 calendar days of the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the time for filing is extended by the Office of Civil Rights for good cause shown under certain circumstances.

Student Rights Pursuant to Education Code Section 221.8

Education Code section 221.8 provides as follows:

The following list of rights, which are based on the relevant provisions of the federal regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.), may be used by the department for purposes of Section 221.6:

1. You have the right to fair and equitable treatment and you shall not be discriminated against based on your sex.
2. You have the right to be provided with an equitable opportunity to participate in all academic extracurricular activities, including athletics.
3. You have the right to inquire of the athletic director of your school as to the athletic opportunities offered by the school.
4. You have the right to apply for athletic scholarships.
5. You have the right to receive equitable treatment and benefits in the provision of all of the following:
1. Equipment and supplies.
2. Scheduling of games and practices.
3. Transportation and daily allowances.
4. Access to tutoring.
5. Coaching.
6. Locker rooms.
7. Practice and competitive facilities.
8. Medical and training facilities and services.
9. Publicity.
6. You have the right to have access to a gender equity coordinator to answer questions regarding gender equity laws.
7. You have the right to contact the State Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation to access information on gender equity laws.
8. You have the right to file a confidential discrimination complaint with the United States Office for Civil Rights or the state Department of Education if you believe you have been discriminated against or if you believe you have received unequal treatment on the basis of your sex.
9. You have the right to pursue civil remedies if you have been discriminated against.
10. You have the right to be protected against retaliation if you file a discrimination complaint.

La sección 221.8 del Código de Educación establece lo siguiente:
La siguiente lista de derechos, que se basa en las disposiciones pertinentes de las reglamentaciones federales que implementan el Título IX de las Enmiendas de Educación de 1972 (20 USC § 1681 et seq.), puede ser utilizada por el departamento para los fines de la Sección 221.6:

1. Tienes derecho a un trato justo y equitativo y no serás discriminado por tu sexo.
2. Tiene derecho a que se le brinde una oportunidad equitativa de participar en todas las actividades académicas extracurriculares, incluido el atletismo.
3. Tiene derecho a preguntarle al director deportivo de su escuela sobre las oportunidades deportivas que ofrece la escuela.
4. Tiene derecho a solicitar becas deportivas.
5. Tiene derecho a recibir un trato y beneficios equitativos en la provisión de todo lo siguiente:
   1. Equipo y suministros.
   2. Programación de juegos y prácticas.
   3. Transporte y viáticos.
   4. Acceso a tutorías.
   5. Entrenamiento.
   6. Vestidores.
   7. Prácticas e instalaciones competitivas.
   8. Instalaciones y servicios médicos y de formación.
   9. Publicidad.
6. Tiene derecho a tener acceso a un coordinador de equidad de género para responder preguntas sobre las leyes de equidad de género.
7. Tiene derecho a comunicarse con el Departamento de Educación del Estado y la Federación Interescolar de California para acceder a información sobre las leyes de equidad de género.
8. Tiene derecho a presentar una queja confidencial por discriminación ante la Oficina de Derechos Civiles de los Estados Unidos o el Departamento de Educación del estado si cree que ha sido discriminado o si cree que ha recibido un trato desigual en función de su sexo.
9. Tiene derecho a buscar recursos civiles si ha sido discriminado.
10. Tiene derecho a estar protegido contra represalias si presenta una queja por discriminación.

Additional Resources  

• United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights 
• United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Complaint Form  
• United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Contact Information: 1-800-421-3481 or [email protected]
• California Department of Education Office of Equal Opportunity 

Title IX Presentation for Sports

This is a PowerPoint presentation by Roger Blake of the California Interscholastic Federation. Roger presented the PowerPoint presentation at an education forum to inform our district parents, staff, coaches and students about the requirements of the Federal Title IX regulations concerning men and women's athletic programs.