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Title IX and Gender Equity

Student Rights under Title IX

Title IX is a federal law passed in 1972 to ensure that male and female students in educational settings are treated equally and fairly.  It protects against discrimination based on sex in programs and activities, including athletic programs. Key areas addressed by Title IX include: discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), exclusion, denial, limitation or separation based on sex or gender. Title IX applies to both male and female students in any educational institution receiving federal funding.  In addition to this federal law, the California Education code and Mt. Diablo Unified School District (MDUSD) policies prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex.  Please refer to Board Policies 5145.3 ,5145.7 and Administrative Regulations 5145.3 and 5145.7 for more information on the District’s anti-discrimination policies.  Title IX requires MDUSD to take appropriate action to investigate when it knows or reasonably should know of a possible Title IX violation.

Filing a Title IX Complaint

You may file a complaint regarding gender equity or sexual harassment, or discrimination, including harassment, intimidation and bullying because of actual or perceived disability, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital or parental status, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, under the District’s Uniform Complaint and/or Title IX procedures, by contacting the Title IX Coordinator:

Jennifer Sachs, Chief, Educational Services
(925) 682-8000 x 4016
sachsj@mdusd.org
1936 Carlotta Drive 
Concord, CA 94519

Title IX complaints will proceed under the District’s Administrative Regulation AR 5145.71 Title IX Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedures.  A complaint may also be filed with the school site principal or his/her designee or a teacher at the school site.  Please see below for complaint forms and training materials.

What are my rights under Title IX?

  • You have the right to fair and equitable treatment and you shall not be discriminated against based on your sex.
  • You have the right to be provided with an equitable opportunity to participate in all academic extracurricular activities, including athletics.
  • You have the right to inquire of the athletic director of your school or appropriate District personnel as to the athletic opportunities offered by the school.
  • You have the right to apply for athletic scholarships if the District offers any.
  • You have the right to receive equitable treatment and benefits in the provision of all of the following related to athletics, if any are provided by the District:
    • Equipment and supplies;
    • Scheduling of games and practices;
    • Transportation and daily allowances;
    • Access to tutoring;
    • Coaching;
    • Locker rooms
    • Practice and competitive facilities;
    • Medical and training facilities and services; and 
    • Publicity
  • You have the right to have access to a sex/gender equity coordinator, referred to as the Title IX Coordinator, to answer questions regarding sex/gender equity laws.
  • You have the right to contact the State Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation to access information on sex/gender equity laws.
  • You have the right to file a confidential discrimination complaint with the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the California Department of Education if you believe you have been discriminated against or if you believe you have received unequal treatment on the basis of your sex.
  • You have the right to pursue civil remedies if you have been discriminated against.
  • You have the right to be protected against retaliation if you file a discrimination complaint. (California Education Code § 221.8.) 

For more information specific to anti-discrimination in District employment, please contact the Title IX Coordinator.