Title IX is 49 Today

Today, June 23, 2021, marks the 49^th anniversary of the passage of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The 37 words in Title IX have had a significant impact over the years on key issues in K-12 and postsecondary education such as recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment, which encompasses sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; treatment of LGBTQ+ students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment.

Title IX has not always protected all people – especially for community members who hold non-dominant identities at the intersection of race and gender. Title IX, not only protects women and girls but also individuals who hold identities outside of the gender binary; with this in mind, it is essential that we continue to advocate and provide robust protections for Girls of Color, Women of Color, Femmes of Color, Gender Non-conforming People of Color, Non-binary People of Color, Trans People of Color, and any other Person of Color whose gender falls outside of the gender binary. Title IX is only a starting point for organizations to explore and address the intersectionality of student identities and how policies and practices must be addressed to improve culture and climate, especially for people who are continuously marginalized.

Not long after the passage of Title IX, the Vocational Education Act of 1976 followed suit containing the first provisions on the elimination of sex bias and stereotyping in vocational education, now career and technical education. The Act also required states to appoint a state sex equity coordinator who was responsible for implementing and monitoring these provisions. Within a few years these individuals met for the first Professional Development Institute, now NAPE’s Summit for Educational Equity, and eventually formed NAPE. The organization’s history is rooted in the passage of Title IX and all the civil rights laws that came before and since.

As we reflect on the most recent ways that Title IX has impacted students, we applaud the Biden administration’s plans to propose to amend its regulations implementing Title IX’s prohibition on the basis of sex to include discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. We encourage President Biden and Secretary Cardona to expedite this regulatory action with all due speed. LGBTQ+ students must have the opportunity to learn and thrive in schools without fear of harassment, exclusion and discrimination with the protections that Title IX offers.

NAPE recognizes Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and the Office of U.S. Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA) on their reintroduction of the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act of 2021 in the 117^th Congress on the anniversary of Title IX. The purpose of this Act is to support educational entities to fully implement Title IX including the establishment of an Office for Gender Equity at the U.S. Department of Education; support for Title IX Coordinators; support for local implementation; and conducting research and dissemination.

Join NAPE today as we celebrate the progress and commit to continue our work to achieve full implementation of Title IX.