This week, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the landmark legislation signed into law on June 23 as part of the Education Amendments of 1972. Consisting of a mere 37 words—“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 transformed the landscape of gender equity in education, expanding opportunities and ensuring fairness for women. We first saw Title IX make substantial changes in the realm of athletics, but it has since made significant strides in addressing sexual harassment on campuses across the country.
As we mark this important milestone, the Title IX team at Franczek remains committed to supporting educational institutions in their commitment to gender equity, an educational environment free from discrimination and sexual harassment, and continued compliance with Title IX. While there is still a long way to go, we want to honor those—including Dr. Bernice “Bunny” Sandler; Representatives Patsy Mink, Shirley Chisholm, and Edith Green; and Senator Birch Bayh—who advocated for and shepherded the passage of this law that has immeasurably improved the lives of millions of young women and girls. We also want to acknowledge the hard, often thankless work that educational institutions do every day to reverse and address the effects of discrimination based on sex and gender.
As we anticipate the release of the Biden administration’s proposed Title IX rules, our team will be here every step of the way to help you comply with Title IX as you prepare for the upcoming academic year and beyond. We will be announcing new opportunities for Title IX training later this summer targeted towards new administrators and those of you who are looking for a refresher. In the meantime, if you already know your training needs or want to discuss additional support options for your Title IX team, feel free to reach out to us anytime at TitleIX@franczek.com.
*Also authored by Jenny Lee, a third-year law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, currently a law clerk at Franczek P.C.