AA 3752 TITLE IX: Responding to Discrimination on the Basis of Sex in K-12 School Systems

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (20 USC §1681 et seq.) is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in any federally funded education program or activity, including K-12 public schools. Title IX was first signed into law on June 23, 1972 and is considered a civil rights statute. The Title IX regulations (34 CFR Part 106) were significantly amended in 2020 and will be effective on August 14, 2020. The new regulations contain six distinct requirements for K-12 school systems; all six outcomes will be addressed in this course: 1. Program compliance (athletics/extra-curricular activities) and instructional courses (single sex/co-educational) 2. Adopt Title IX policies and procedures that comply with current law 3. Monitor and report Title IX violations (systemic and individual) 4. Investigate Title IX complaints (formal and informal) 5. Conduct Title IX hearing proceedings (optional for K-12 school systems) 6. Communicate investigation results and offer supportive measures (interim and formal) Title IX guidance documents (x3) and a training video published by the U.S. Department of Education will be assigned to read, review and study in advance of the course. These pre-assigned materials, located at a public and open-sourced link (see below), will require participants to engage in a minimum of 2 hours of work outside the course. Each participant will also review and bring to the course the Title IX policy and procedures adopted by their individual school districts. A checklist will be provided to each participant that contains required policy and procedure language.

About the presenter:
Stephanie E. Jones, a Partner at the K-12 education law firm Kriha Boucek, has education in her blood. Her mother was a teacher, an elementary school principal, and her role model. Growing up in an environment where education and equity are both core values led Stephanie to the practice of school law, where she quickly became a leader in the field. She has over 18 years of experience spanning all areas of school law, including labor and employment, litigation, student matters, business workings, special education, and board governance matters, along with experience advising school administrators. Stephanie is a sought-after speaker on many school law topics, at the local, state, and national levels. As former General Counsel for the Illinois State Board of Education, she has unparalleled knowledge of the inner workings of the ISBE and understands what it takes to run a large governmental organization.