A recent update to Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex-based discrimination, has sparked heated discussions in schools across the country.
The changes, which went into effect on Aug. 1, aim to extend protections to include discrimination based on gender identity. However, the implementation of these changes has left many school districts, parents and students confused.
Questions remain as to how each district in West Michigan will actually implement the requirements.
The updated Title IX rules require schools to:
- Use students’ preferred pronouns
- Allow students to access facilities, sports and activities that align with their preferred gender identities
- Update the process for handling Title IX harassment complaints, allowing schools to eliminate steps in the process involving cross-examinations
Janine King, a Rockford Schools parent, expressed concerns at a recent School Board meeting on Sept. 9.
“The teachers are being silenced by their First Amendment rights and being violated when they’re shamed into silence,” she said.