Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that: "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."

​*Sex-based discrimination includes: sexual harassment, sexual violence, and gender-based harassment and discrimination
What is Title IX? 
Title IX was signed into law in 1972 as part of the Education Amendments to combat sex discrimination in federally funded educational institutions. Inspired by the broader civil rights movement and the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which addressed racial discrimination, Title IX initially received little attention but has since had a profound impact on gender equity in education. Its primary goal is to ensure that no individual is excluded from participation, denied benefits, or discriminated against based on sex in educational programs or activities. While Title IX is most renowned for increasing opportunities for women and girls in sports, it also plays a crucial role in addressing sexual harassment and assault in schools. To comply with Title IX, schools must implement procedures for handling cases of sexual misconduct, making it an essential tool for student protection. Over time, the law's scope has broadened to include issues such as sexual misconduct and protections for transgender students, requiring educational institutions to designate a coordinator responsible for investigating complaints and ensuring adherence to its provisions.
Current Title IX Regulations (10/24)

  • Provide full protection from sex-based harassment.  
  • Require schools to take prompt and effective action to end any sex discrimination in their education programs or activities—and to prevent its recurrence and remedy its effects. 
  • Require schools to provide supportive measures to complainants and respondents affected by conduct that may constitute sex discrimination, including sexual violence and other forms of sex-based harassment.  
  • Require schools to respond promptly and effectively to all complaints of sex discrimination with a fair, transparent, and reliable process that includes trained, unbiased decisionmakers to evaluate all relevant and not otherwise impermissible evidence. 
  • Provide schools with flexibility to adapt the regulations’ grievance procedure requirements to their educational communities so that all schools can implement Title IX’s promise of nondiscrimination fully and fairly in their educational environments. 
  • Protect students, employees, and applicants from discrimination based on pregnancy or related conditions. 
  • Prohibit discrimination against LGBTQI+ students, employees, and others.
  • Protect people from harm when they are separated or treated differently based on sex in school. 
  • Protects students, employees, and others from retaliation.  
  • Ensure that schools communicate their nondiscrimination policies and procedures. 
  • Prohibit schools from sharing personal information. ​
For more information, see OPHD: 

Address: 
2111 Bancroft Way, Suite 300
Berkeley, CA 94720-1120

Email:
[email protected]  

Phone:
(510) 643-7985

Fax:
(510) 643-3578

Website: 
https://ophd.berkeley.edu/