Know Your Rights: Title IX Prohibits Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Where You Go to School
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq. is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities. All public and private elementary and secondary schools, school districts, colleges, and universities (hereinafter “schools”) receiving any Federal funds must comply with Title IX. Under Title IX, discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.
Below is additional information regarding the specific requirements of Title IX as they pertain to sexual harassment and sexual violence.
What are a school’s responsibilities to address sexual harassment and sexual violence?
A school has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively. If a school knows or reasonably should know about sexual harassment or sexual violence that creates a hostile environment, the school must take immediate action to eliminate the sexual harassment or sexual violence, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.
Even if a student or his or her parent does not want to file a complaint or does not request that the school take any action on the student’s behalf, if a school knows or reasonably should know about possible sexual harassment or sexual violence, it must promptly investigate to determine what occurred and then take appropriate steps to resolve the situation.
A criminal investigation into allegations of sexual harassment or sexual violence does not relieve the school of its duty under Title IX to resolve complaints promptly and equitably.
What procedures must a school have in place to prevent sexual harassment and sexual violence and resolve complaints?
Every School Must Have And Distribute A Policy Against Sex Discrimination
Title IX requires that each school publish a policy that does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its educational programs and activities. This notice must be widely distributed and available on an on-going basis.
The policy must state that inquiries concerning Title IX may be referred to as the school’s Title IX coordinator or to OCR.
Every School Must Have A Title IX Coordinator
Every school must designate at least one employee who is responsible for coordinating the school’s compliance with Title IX. This person is sometimes referred to as the Title IX coordinator. Schools must notify all students and employees of the name or title and contact information of the Title IX coordinator.
The coordinator’s responsibilities include overseeing all complaints of sex discrimination and identifying and addressing any patterns or systemic problems that arise during the review of such complaints.
Every School Must Have And Make Known Procedures For Students To File Complaints Of Sex Discrimination.
Title IX requires schools to adopt and publish grievance procedures for students to file complaints of sex discrimination, including complaints of sexual harassment or sexual violence. Schools can use general disciplinary procedures to address complaints of sex discrimination. But all procedures must provide for prompt and equitable resolution of sex discrimination complaints.
Every complainant has the right to present his or her case. This includes the right to adequate, reliable, and impartial investigation of complaints, the right to have an equal opportunity to present witnesses and other evidence, and the right to the same appeal processes, for both parties.
Every complainant has the right to be notified of the time frame within which: (a) the school will conduct a full investigation of the complaint; (b) the parties will be notified of the outcome of the complaint; and (c) the parties may file an appeal, if applicable.
Every complainant has the right for the complaint to be decided using a preponderance of the evidence standard (i.e., it is more likely than not that sexual harassment or violence occurred).
Every complainant has the right to be notified, in writing, of the outcome of the complaint. Even though federal privacy laws limit the disclosure of certain information in disciplinary proceedings:
Schools must disclose to the complainant information about the sanction imposed on the perpetrator when the sanction directly relates to the harassed student. This includes an order that the harasser stays away from the harassed student, or that the harasser is prohibited from attending school for a period of time, or when the harasser is transferred to other classes or another residence hall.
Additionally, the Clery Act (20 U.S.C. §1092(f)), which only applies to post-secondary institutions (colleges and universities), requires that both parties be informed of the outcome, including sanction information, of any institutional proceeding alleging a sex offense. Therefore, colleges and universities may not require a complainant to abide by a non-disclosure agreement, in writing or otherwise.
The grievance procedures may include voluntary informal methods (e.g., mediation) for resolving some types of sexual harassment complaints. However, the complainant must be notified of the right to end the informal process at any time and begin the formal stage of the complaint process. In cases involving allegations of sexual assault, mediation is not appropriate.
Want More Information? Contact the KJC Law Firm
At the KJC Law Firm, we strive to hold wrongdoers accountable in order to get justice for our clients. For cases involving Title IX violations, there are a variety of options and remedies available that can be pursued with the help of an experienced attorney, such as filing a formal complaint with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights or filing a complaint against the school in the federal courts seeking monetary damages and/or injunctive relief.
If you think you or someone you know has been discriminated against on the basis of sex by a school – either in the admissions process or throughout the grievance procedure in response to a complaint of sex discrimination – then the KJC Law Firm may be able to help. To discuss your options and learn more about whether your circumstances involve a Title IX violation, please contact the KJC Law Firm here to schedule a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
