Thousands of Girls Missing The Opportunity To Play Sports – NYC Public Schools in Violation of Title IX
It’s astounding that the FIFA Women’s World Cup is being played this year, and there are still issues in our country with Title IX – and, it certainly cannot be questioned that all girls and women have a global impact in sports. It’s hard to believe that we even need to be reminded of Title IX and why it is important that all girls be given the opportunity to reach their full potential. How can the New York Public School System be found in violation of Title IX in this decade or even this century?
Investigation of largest public school system in country triggered by Title IX complaint filed by National Women’s Law Center
In response to a complaint filed by the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) in 2010 the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) has found that the New York City Department of Education (the District), which operates the public schools in New York City and is the largest educational system in the United States, has violated Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education, by failing to provide high school girls with equal opportunities to play sports as boys.
“The problem of girls missing the opportunity to play sports is not unique to New York City. It’s a problem we see across the U.S. in all types of communities. It’s an ongoing problem and focus due to schools not complying. Schools need to understand their responsibilities and the severity of their actions,” said Neena Chaudhry, Sr. Counsel and Director of Equal Opportunities in Athletics at the National Women’s Law Center, “Too many girls are being denied not only the opportunity to play sports but the opportunity to receive college scholarships, exceed in the workforce and learn valuable life lessons.”
OCR’s investigation confirmed that girls in New York City public schools are underrepresented in athletics programs and determined that an additional 3,862 opportunities would be needed to level the playing field for female students. The federal agency rejected the District’s claim that it had a practice of adding athletic opportunities for girls because it had cut girls’ opportunities over the past several years and lacked a process for students to request the addition of sports. OCR also found that the District is not fully accommodating female students’ interests in playing sports, noting that there is evidence of unmet interest in volleyball, softball, basketball, soccer, tennis, cross-country, bowling, golf and swimming.
“Too many girls are being refused the chance to play sports and the chance to reap the positive benefits that extend beyond the playing field,” said NWLC Co-President Marcia D. Greenberger. “The stark statistics represent lost opportunities that would have enriched girls’ high school experience and boosted their academic performance and overall health. OCR’s investigation confirms NWLC’s findings that the New York City school district’s own data demonstrate widespread disparities in athletic opportunities between girls and boys and underscores the importance that the schools comply with Title IX. It is long past time for schools to give girls what they need, deserve and are entitled to under the law.”
The District has entered an agreement with OCR to resolve the widespread Title IX violation, in which it will conduct comprehensive assessments of female students’ interests and add sports accordingly. The assessments will be based on multiple indicators of interest and will include a survey of girls in 8th through 12th grades, their participation in club, intramural and recreational sports offered in the District’s competitive region, and identification of sports not offered by the District but offered by other schools in the same region. The District is required to report its findings to OCR by Fall 2015 and to add opportunities for girls as required in the upcoming school years. The District also must develop a process for students to request additional sports opportunities, provide a description of all sports offerings at each high school to all students in physical education classes and provide Title IX training to all Athletic Directors.
Is the playing field equal at your daughter’s school?
Knowledge is Power: The National Women’s Law Center offers a booklet called Check It Out that provides information on Title IX rights for girls and women in athletics. Learn your rights and speak up if your daughter’s school is not compliant.
Contact the School: Let school officials know the areas in which the school did well and those in need of improvement. Discuss these issues with your school’s Title IX officer (the law requires federally funded schools to have one). Get that person’s help in leveling the playing field.
File a Grievance: Find out if your school has a grievance procedure (the law also requires federally funded schools to have a procedure for handling sex discrimination complaints). If appropriate, consider using that procedure to address your concerns.
Develop a Plan of Action: This plan should include both short-term and long-term goals and actions, as well as specific suggestions to help reach those goals. Include a timetable for making the changes and determine who should receive it. If school officials such as coaches, the athletic director, principal, dean of students, or school board members have not been involved, you may want to begin talking to them now.
If you have questions or concerns about your school’s athletic program, you can always contact:
National Women’s Law Center
11 Dupont Circle, NW Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: (202) 588-5180
Fax: (202) 588-5185
Email: info@nwlc.org
