The Real Enforcers of Title IX: Angry Parents

There are, however, several impediments to making sure schools comply with the law.

One is knowing that it exists. A March survey by Ipsos and the University of Maryland of more than 1,000 parents and more than 500 children ages 12 to 17 found that more than half of the parents and nearly three-fourths of the children had not heard of Title IX.

Another major obstacle is misinformation. At many high schools, for example, the quality of the facilities, training opportunities and even coaching salaries are buttressed by sport-specific booster clubs funded by the parents of athletes and local sponsors, who often raise tens of thousands of dollars to support a single sport. Most frequently, that kind of money is used to elevate football, boys’ basketball and baseball.

If that funding causes a disparity between what is spent on similar boys’ and girls’ sports, booster club leaders typically argue that they are a private entity outside the purview of school district officials — and therefore not obligated to comply with Title IX.

The law, however, holds school districts responsible for the money and other resources funneled toward each team, regardless of the sources. District leaders are obligated to ensure that the athletic experience stays equitable for girls and boys even with independent financing. And that experience goes beyond fields and facilities, encompassing details like staffing, game and practice schedules, and transportation arrangements.

In the end, a large percentage of high schools, perhaps even the majority, remain noncompliant with Title IX regulations, according to the leaders of multiple state high school associations. But gradually, progress has been made, and notably, Title IX clashes have rarely led to the elimination of boys’ high school teams to help achieve gender equity — a divisive decision that scores of colleges have made for decades.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/22/sports/title-ix-gender-parents.html