Title IX

Title IX

OVERVIEW

Title IX is a federal law passed in 1972 to ensure that all students and employees in educational settings are treated equally and fairly. It protects against discrimination based on sex (including sex-based harassment). In addition, Title IX protects students and employees who do not conform to gender stereotypes. State law also prohibits discrimination based on sex, sex characteristics, sex stereotypes, gender identity, sexual orientation, and pregnancy and related conditions. The preamble to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 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.”

Reference:

Title IX requires that each school district have at least one person designated as the Title IX Coordinator.

Bethany Scott - Title IX Coordinator
3380 14th Street
Riverside, CA 92501
(951) 788-7135
[email protected]

STUDENT NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY STATEMENT

The Riverside Unified School District (RUSD) is committed to ensuring equal, fair, and meaningful access to employment and education services. RUSD prohibits discrimination, intimidation, harassment (including sex-based harassment) or bullying in any employment practice, education program, or educational activity based on a person’s actual or perceived ancestry, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, immigration status, nationality, national origin, race or ethnicity, ethnic group identification, religion, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics or any other basis prohibited by California state and federal nondiscrimination laws respectively. Not all bases of discrimination will apply to both education services and employment. Students who violate this policy may be subject to discipline, up to and including expulsion, in accordance with district policy, administrative procedure, and state law. Employees who violate this policy shall be subject to discipline up to and including dismissal. Any disciplinary action shall be in accordance with applicable federal, state and/or collective bargaining agreements.

TITLE IX PROHIBITIONS

Sex-Based Discrimination, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (including sex-based harassment)

  • Hostile Environment Harassment: unwelcome, sex-based conduct, that based on the totality of circumstances, is subjectively and objectively offensive and is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the District’s education program or activity;
  • Quid pro quo sex-based harassment: An employee, agent, or other person authorized by the District to provide an aid, benefit, or service under the District’s education program or activity explicitly or implicitly conditioning the provision of such an aid, benefit, or service on a person’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
  • Specific Offenses: Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking.

State and federal laws protect students from all forms of sex discrimination and sex-based harassment (including sexual violence and sexual abuse). Any student, regardless of their gender, may potentially face sex-based harassment, which can interfere with a student’s academic performance, as well as their emotional and physical well-being. Preventing and remedying sex-based harassment in schools is essential to ensuring a safe environment in which students can learn. The OCR issued revised Title IX regulations on April 19, 2024, regarding sex discrimination and sex-based harassment.

For further information regarding District policies regarding sexual harassment, refer to the following Title IX Sex-Based Harassment web page.

Gender Equity

It is the policy of the State of California that all persons, regardless of their gender, should enjoy freedom from discrimination of any kind in the educational institution of the state. The laws expand upon gender equity and Title IX laws that provide guidance to California’s education system. Each Local Educational Agency (“LEA”) will be responsible for following the laws in addition to Title IX requirements.

Formal Sex-based Harassment Complaints

Refer to the Districts Sexual Harassment-Title IX web page under the heading "How to File a Sexual Harassment Complaint" for details and forms for filing.

Legal References

Recruitment, Admissions Counseling

  • Recruitment materials, admission forms, class or career selection materials, admission of students.

Athletics

  • Requires nondiscriminatory participation based on student interests and abilities;
  • Equal benefits and opportunities (equipment, supplies, training facilities, recruitment, support services, etc.)
  • Financial assistance

Sex Equity in Competitive Athletics

Each public elementary, secondary, and charter school in California, that offers competitive athletics, is required to make the following information available to the public at the end of each school year:

  1. The total enrollment of the school, classified by gender.
  2. The number of pupils enrolled at the school who participate in competitive athletics, classified by gender.
  3. The number of male and female teams, classified by sport and by competition level.

Competitive Athletics are defined as sports where the activity has coaches, a governing organization, practices, competes during a defined season, and has competition as its primary goal. The required data as stated above should reflect the total number of players on a team roster on the official first day of competition. Schools should post the information on the school’s website. All materials used by the school to compile the data are to be retained by the school for a minimum of three years after the information has been posted.

Reference:

Pregnant & Parenting Students

  • Different treatment on the basis of sex based on parental, family, or marital status;
  • Exclusion in educational programs or activities based on pregnancy or related conditions

Discipline

  • Imposing consequences based on sex, gender identity, stereotypical binary expectations, etc.

Schools, Classes and Extracurricular Activities

  • Providing education programs or activities separately on the basis of sex;
  • Requiring or refusing participation by students on the basis of sex;

Noted exceptions: 1) contact sports in physical education; 2) classes or portions of classes that deal primarily with human sexuality; 3) non-vocational classes and extracurricular activities with a coeducational school if certain criteria are met.

Single Sex Programs

In 2006, the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) adopted new Title IX regulations for the establishment of single sex programs in schools. Many factors and legal requirements must be addressed if schools are considering the development of single-sex options.

Reference:

Employment

  • Recruitment, hiring, promotion, compensation, grants of leave, benefits
  • Selection for employment

Retaliation

  • Against anyone who has reported, investigated, participated in, or filed a complaint under Title IX

RIGHTS UNDER TITLE IX

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS (OCR) RESOURCES

U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Bldg.
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100

You may email them at [email protected], or fax them at (202-453-6012). If neither of these options are available to you, mail your correspondence to the address above. You may also contact them at 800-421-3481 or [email protected] to confirm receipt of your correspondence. For more information, including links about how to file a complaint with the OCR, see the Title IX Resources page.

CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION