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Compliance with Title IX
by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

Contents: Definition of a Sport | Keeping One Step Ahead of OCR Investigations | Participation Opportunities | Resources

Keeping One Step Ahead of OCR Investigations (Documentation, what to count, what really counts)

The best documentation for a Title IX investigation can be during a routine project evaluation. Schools scrambling to gather information after the fact have a more difficult time producing accurate documentation.

Documentation for the following questions could prove valuable when conducting a self-evaluation, or during an OCR investigation.

Has your district participated in a sports-based interest survey within the past two year?

Was the survey gender-specific specifying who was being measured and where an interest lies? What action has your district taken to respond to the results of the survey?

Are athletic opportunities, program allocation, staffing, coaches' compensation and number of years experience the same in comparable programs?

Is the opportunity to receive additional stipends for open gym, camps or off-season supervision, the same for comparable positions?

Is the amount of money budgeted and spent on students in comparable programs equal?

Are monies spent on supplies, equipment and uniforms based on the number of athletes being served? Is the allocation of funds in comparable programs equally based on money received by donors, corporate sponsors, fund-raisers, boosters, gate receipts, or any other source of income? Funds, supplies, and equipment must be distributed so that all students in the school program benefit equally.

Does the policy and practice of school-utilized facilities provide comparable access for practice and competition?

Is there access for both genders to the field house, training room, weight room locker room, and laundry service.

Are enforced and written policies gender-neutral, which include travel, per diem and transportation needs?

Is release time based on distance, game time and road conditions? Is overnight stay, or return-home policy following the elimination of teams, the same for boys or girls? Are pre-season and post-season differences in travel policy for teams or coaching staffs the same?

Does the policy and practice of your school provide equal compensation of coaches for both girls and boys sports for equal work?

Support can be demonstrated by providing secretarial help either paid or volunteer, providing comparable information to the media, providing publication or promotional media for both genders, scheduling recognition events or pep rallies on or off campus equally, scheduling the same number of appearances by spirit groups, music groups or other ancillary groups.

 

Next: Participation Opportunities