Title IX

Sex Discrimination: Overview of the Law

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. All federal agencies that provide grants of assistance are required to enforce Title IX. The U.S. Department of Education gives grants of financial assistance to schools and colleges and to certain other entities, including vocational rehabilitation programs.

Examples of the types of discrimination that are covered under Title IX include sexual harassment; the failure to provide equal opportunity in athletics; discrimination in a school’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses and programs; and discrimination based on pregnancy. A fuller list of Title IX issues OCR addresses appears here. The Title IX regulation is enforced by OCR and is in the Code of Federal Regulations at 34 CFR Part 106.

Title IX prohibits retaliation for filing an OCR complaint or for advocating for a right protected by Title IX. Title IX also prohibits employment discrimination, but employment discrimination complaints filed with OCR are generally referred to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

Find more information on Title IX here.

Links to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations:

20 USC 1681: Sex (USCode.house.gov)
34 CFR Part 106 and Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

AAO/Title IX Coordinator Contact Info

Debra McIntyre, Assistant Superintendent
7 Lions Lane
Camden, ME
(207) 236-3358
[email protected]