Every school is required by law to have a Title IX coordinator and a procedure to file a complaint.
Photo courtesy www.womenssportsfoundation.org
By Marian Sacco
Marian Sacco
Let’s play a game of word association. I say “Title IX” and you say . . . ?
Immediately, I think of Billie Jean King, the tennis star and winner of 39 major tennis titles. At 78, she continues to spend her career championing for the implementation of Title IX for women and girls. Her passion is “advocating against sexism in sports.”
June 23 we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Signed into law by Richard Nixon in 1972, Title IX states, “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.”
This is “the groundbreaking law that ushered in an era of enormous progress for women and girls” from classrooms to playing fields, says Gloria Blackwell, the CEO of American Association of University Women (AAUW). For 140 years, AAUW members have believed in working together to achieve a nation and a world that is just, fair, and equitable for all.
Title IX has created an opportunity for women’s sports, scholarships, jobs, and participation in any educational institution that receives federal funds. It is best known for the expansion of athletics for women and girls.
In 1971, the year before Title IX, 310,000 girls and women in America were playing high school and college sports. By 2012 there were more than 3,373,000. Maybe it is your daughter, niece, or granddaughter who benefited.
But Title IX is not just about sports. It affects everything from admissions and athletics to STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) training and sexual harassment policies, and discrimination based on pregnancy. It protects both staff and students.
Superintendent of Morgan Hill Unified School District Dr. Carmen Garcia said, “Fifty years ago the civil rights law, Title IX, was implemented to bar discrimination based on sex. Today, we see the impact Title IX has had on shaping women’s athletics across the country, access to STEM coursework, and Career Technical Education pathways, to name a few. This law has had a profound impact on students experiencing a full, well-rounded, rigorous educational experience based on access, equity, and equality.”
Every school is required by law to have a Title IX coordinator and a procedure to file a complaint. For the MHUSD policy, visit www.mhusd.org/departments/human-resources/title-ix-athletic-information.
The city of Morgan Hill issued a proclamation June 15 regarding the Title IX 50th anniversary. It urges the citizens to protect the rights of all students as intended in Title IX. AAUW also encourages the passage of the Gender Equity in Education Act, which ensures schools and educational institutions have the resources to comply with this landmark civil rights law. This month, let’s join together to understand, support, and celebrate Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. “Everyone’s dream can come true if you just stick to it and work hard,” said Serena Williams, a tennis champion today.
Morgan Hill resident Marian Sacco is president of the American Association of University Women, celebrating 40 years as a Morgan Hill branch. She is a graduate of the Leadership Morgan Hill class of 2005.
