(Washington,
D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded the U.S. Department
of Education’s decision to repeal a Bush-era Title IX policy that allowed
schools to potentially understate the interest in women’s athletics and provide
fewer resources to female athletes than they do to male athletes. With the
repeal of this policy, schools and colleges must now provide stronger evidence
that they offer equal opportunities for athletic participation under the
federal Title IX gender equity law.
“Over
the last thirty years Title IX has opened the doors to school gyms and playing
fields for millions of girls across the country, giving them an opportunity to
compete in sports and develop the self-confidence and team spirit that will
benefit them their whole lives,” Senator Murray said. “I am so glad that the
Obama administration repealed a policy that took us a step back from the
tremendous gains we have made for female athletes. I am going to continue
fighting to make sure women at all levels are getting the same chance to play
sports as their male peers.”
Senator
Murray recently introduced the High School Sports
Information Collection Act with Senator Snowe (R-Maine), which would strengthen Title IX by requiring high schools to release
data regarding their male and female athletic programs, including athletic
participation rates, expenditures on teams, and practice and game schedules.
The
Bush-era Title IX policy enacted in 2005 allowed schools to use only a survey
to prove a lack of interest in starting a new women’s sport. The Bush provision
also encouraged schools to consider a non-response to the questionnaire as
disinterest in a new women’s sport. By repealing this policy, schools and
colleges must now provide stronger evidence that they offer equal opportunities
for athletic participation under the federal Title IX gender equity law.
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