Title IX Law Prohibiting Gender Discrimination in Education

What is Title IX?

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.) is a federal law that states:

“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.”

Title IX prohibits sex discrimination in education, including K–12 schools. Title IX has been used to promote equity in education by ensuring equal resources and treatment in education and school-related athletic and extracurricular activities, providing protections for pregnant and parenting students, and prohibiting sex-based harassment, discrimination, and bullying.

In addition to this federal law, California Education law also prohibits schools from discriminating against students on the basis of sex (Education Code sections 220–221.1).

Sacramento County Office of Education (SCOE) Title IX Coordinator

Nancy Herota, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 269003, Sacramento, CA 95826-9003
Physical Location (no mail): 10474 Mather Boulevard, Mather, CA 95655
Email: complianceofficer@scoe.net
Phone: (916) 228-2409
Fax: (916) 228-2403

Your Rights Under Title IX

• Equal Opportunity & Access
• Gender Equity/Title IX
• Uniform Complaint Procedures
• Resolution of Discrimination/Harassment Complaint
• Know Your Rights: Title IX Prohibits Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence Where You Go to School
• List of Rights (Education Code section 221.8)

SCOE Anti-Discrimination Policies

• Prohibition on Discrimination and Harassment
  • Sacramento County Board of Education Policy 5145.3
  • SCOE Administrative Rules and Regulations 5145.3
• Prohibition on Sexual Harassment
  • Sacramento County Board of Education Policy 5145.7
  • SCOE Administrative Rules and Regulations 5145.7
• Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students
  • Sacramento County Board of Education Policy 5146

How to File a Complaint with SCOE Under Title IX

SCOE has Uniform Complaint Procedures for filing a discrimination complaint:

• Sacramento County Board of Education Policy 1312.3
• SCOE Administrative Rules and Regulations 1312.3

SCOE’s Uniform Complaint Procedures will be used to investigate and resolve Title IX complaints. A complaint must be initiated no later than six months from the date when the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or bullying occurred, or six months from the date when the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or bullying. Upon written request by the complainant, the County Superintendent or designee may, for good cause, extend in writing the filing period for up to 90 calendar days.

How to File a Complaint with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights

• Overview/Information
• Discrimination Complaint Form–online and PDF versions (bottom of linked page)

A complaint must be filed within 180 calendar days of the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the time for filing is extended by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights for good cause shown under certain circumstances.

U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights

San Francisco Office Contact Information

50 United Nations Plaza
Mail Box 1200, Room 1545
San Francisco, CA 94102
Phone: (415) 486-5555; TDD/TTY: (800) 877-8339
FAX: (415) 486-5570
Email: ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov

U.S. Department of Education Contact Information

Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson Department of Education Building
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100
Phone: (800) 421-3481
Email: ocr@ed.gov