Facts:
Today, girls comprise 49 percent of the nation's high school population, but they only account for 41 percent of high school athletes. All over the country, there are schools that fail to treat girls and young women fairly with respect to athletic participation, athletics facilities, and other benefits. Not only is this unfair, it also is potentially illegal under the federal law Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, which prohibits sex discrimination against students and employees of educational institutions.

• Read AAUW's position on equity in athletics.
• Read the Dec. 2009 research report by the Women's Sports Foundation called "Her Life Depends on It - II"

Project:
In collaboration with the nonprofits The Legal Aid Society — Employment Law Center and the Women's Sports Foundation, the AAUW Legal Advocacy Fund produced a Program in a Box for AAUW members with materials about Title IX and high school athletics and documents that can help AAUW members find out if their local school is Title IX complaint regarding athletics.

Through this program, AAUW members can take concrete steps toward ensuring equitable athletic opportunities at their local schools as required under Title IX. And, if there is inequity, it can be fixed before schools are sued for it. The program also helps AAUW members learn more about Title IX as it relates to athletics and provides them with opportunities to educate the community.

Get Started:

• Download the Title IX Compliance: Know the Score Program in a Box and use the step-by-step guidance to learn more about Title IX and investigate your local high school.
• Download and view/listen to the one-hour Webinar from October, 29, 2009, to learn more about the Program in a Box, how you can use it, and why we need your help ensuring that schools are compliant with Title IX. (It make take a few minutes to download. Please contact laf@aauw.org if you have any difficulties)
  • Access additional resources from the webinar
    • Gender gap in high school athletics by state (prepared by WSF)
    • "Equitable Sports Opportunities for Women" by AAUW member and webinar presenter Mitzi Witchger
    • "What You Can Do" by AAUW member and webinar presenter Mitzi Witchger
    • U.S. Dept. of Education Commission on Opportunity in Athletics testimony of AAUW member and webinar presenter Mitzi Witchger

Join the Online Campaign:

• Follow the Title IX program on Twitter (KTSTitleIX) to read the lastest Title IX news.
• Join the "Know the Score: Title IX Compliance" fan page on Facebook.
• Post the video of Anucha Browne Sanders on your website.
  

AAUW - Advancing equity for women and girls through advocacy, education, and research
Breaking through Barriers for Women and Girls
Home | Contact | Report a Problem | Privacy Policy | Sponsors and Partners | RSS
© 2009 AAUW • 1111 Sixteenth Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20036 • Tel: 800/326-AAUW • E-mail: connect@aauw.org