Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 (“Title IX”) provides that “[n]o 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.” This means that our students and employees are entitled to be free from sex-based discrimination in our educational programs or activities. This includes discrimination based on gender, gender identity, pregnancy status, parental status, and sexual harassment as defined by law.

Title IX defines “sexual harassment” as “conduct on the basis of sex” that satisfies one or more of the following:

1. An employee of the school system conditioning the provision of aid, benefit, or service of the school system on an individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;

2. Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equalaccess to an educational program or activity of the school system;

3. Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined under various federal statutes.

To trigger an investigation under the District’s Title IX complaint process and procedures, a formal complaint must be submitted. However, supportive services are available even if no complaint is submitted.