Title IX and America’s Schools

by Sybil Maimin

There is good news and bad news regarding the status of women’s sports in schools since passage of Title IX, the portion of the 1972 Education Amendments that prohibits sex discrimination in educational institutions that receive federal funds.

On the positive side, there has been a four-fold increase in women participating in sports, and changes in social attitudes have led to acceptance of females in competitive and team sports (since the 1920’s, physical activity to benefit health has been encouraged for girls but competition frowned upon). Many more athletic scholarships are offered to females, and Olympic berths are attainable. Women’s intercollegiate sports that began in the 1970’s are now spurred on by Title IX.

The bad news is there is still much resistance to the law, and only 10 percent of American colleges are in full compliance. To date, no school has lost federal funding because of non-compliance. Also, the increase in visibility and funding for women’s sports has led to interest from male coaches and a consequent decrease in the number of women who coach women from 90 percent in 1971 to 50 percent today.

As explained at a recent meeting about Title IX at The Women’s City Club of New York, the law applies to elementary and high schools as well as colleges. New York City is supposed to offer physical education to grades K-3, but only about 10 percent of schools do. Facilities are generally inadequate and teachers unqualified. The loss to students is significant because sports participation can raise self-confidence, improve health, teach cooperation, and according to recent studies, improve learning.

The intent of Title IX is fairness. It requires schools to give male and female students equal opportunities to play sports and to receive scholarship money. The three tests for compliance are: proportionality (whether the percentage of males and females in sports reflects the numbers of each sex in the total school population); showing an ongoing institutional history of expanding opportunities for female athletes; and providing females with sports opportunities consistent with their interests and abilities.

A booklet, Check It Out, outlines requirements of the law and how to determine if an institution is in compliance. It can be ordered free from National Women’s Law Center, Attn.: Check It Out, 11 Dupont Circle, NW. Ste. 800, Washington, DC, 20036.

Education Update, Inc., P.O. Box 20005, New York, NY 10001. Tel: (212) 481-5519. Fax: (212) 481-3919. Email: ednews1@aol.com.
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