AAUW Denounces District Court’s Decision to Vacate 2024 Title IX Rules

Decision makes it easier for schools to dismiss cases;
harder to hold perpetrators of sexual harassment and assault accountable;
more difficult for survivors to get the protections they need. 

WASHINGTON — AAUW (American Association for University Women) today denounced the decision by the U.S. District Court in the Eastern District of Kentucky to vacate the updated Title IX rules released in April 2024. The decision makes it easier for schools to dismiss cases, harder to hold perpetrators of sexual harassment and assault accountable, and more difficult for survivors to get the protections they need. 

“This ruling is a direct attack on students nationwide,” said AAUW CEO Gloria L. Blackwell. “The U.S. District Court has just made it harder for America’s most vulnerable students to report their harassment and seek protection.” 

The 2024 Title IX rules increased protection for student survivors of sexual harassment and assault and ensured equal education opportunities for pregnant, parenting, and LGBTQ+ students. The court’s decision reverts Title IX back to rules instituted by former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, which fail to respond to the reality of sexual harassment and violence in schools. 

Title IX, part of the Education Amendments of 1972, empowers students with the right to report misconduct, seek justice, and access resources to continue their education without fear or disruption. Upholding Title IX ensures campuses remain spaces where equity and respect are cornerstones of the academic and social experience. 

“Students deserve to be in inclusive, welcoming learning environments — not to be political pawns,” said Blackwell. “AAUW is prepared to fight on behalf of all students, who deserve protection regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, race or ethnicity, and parenting status.”  

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AAUW (American Association of University Women) is the nation’s leading organization for equity in higher education and women’s economic empowerment. 

Founded in 1881 by women who defied society’s conventions by earning college degrees, AAUW has since worked to increase women’s access, opportunity, and equity in higher education through research, advocacy, and philanthropy of over $146 million, supporting thousands of women scholars. Learn more at aauw.org.