ATIXA’s Policy Platform
Executive Summary
The Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) is a professional organization of 8,000 school and college Title IX coordinators, investigators, and administrators interested in serving their districts and campuses more effectively. It is ATIXA’s mission to address gender equity by bringing Title IX professionals together in collaboration to explore best practices, understand industry standards, share resources, and enhance the profession.
The purpose of this ATIXA policy platform is to identify the core issues and policies that ATIXA values as an organization. It creates a funnel through which ATIXA can determine what advocacy actions to take and what legislation and regulatory initiatives to initiate or support.
The ATIXA policy platform centers on advancing the goal of gender equity in education and, to that end, supports policies and actions in areas including:
- Title IX
- Civil rights for underserved communities in educational institutions
- Educational equity and school climate
While these are broad areas, our level of engagement on specific issues will vary. ATIXA will also annually establish a smaller set of legislative priorities within these areas that will be the primary focus of ATIXA’s policy work.
Support clear and fair application of Title IX
To this end, ATIXA supports:
- Protecting all students and employees, of any gender, from discrimination on the basis of sex
- Designating a school-based Title IX administrator to oversee Title IX compliance
- Institutions providing training and resources to support Title IX coordinators’ advancement of gender equity in education
- Ensuring equitable access in academic and other areas, including STEM courses, school-related extracurricular activities, scholarships, and research opportunities
- Protecting the rights of pregnant and parenting students to stay in school and have equitable educational opportunities
- Ensuring students have equal opportunities to participate in athletics and related activities
- Ensuring students and employees have adequate protection against sex-based harassment and assault, including requiring schools take immediate and appropriate action in cases of sexual violence and harassment that creates a hostile environment
- Determining when single-sex education and programs/activities are permissible and when it is discriminatory and based on gender stereotypes
- Ensuring transgender students have the right to equal access to educational opportunities, including access to activities and facilities consistent with their gender identity
Support laws, policies, and activities that promote nondiscrimination based on protected classes such as race, sex, disability, and gender identity in education
To this end, ATIXA supports intersectional approaches to the resolution of complaints of discrimination by schools and prohibiting discrimination:
- On the basis of race, color, or national origin in any educational program or activity
- Based on sex in educational programs and activities
- Against transgender and gender-diverse students
- Based on disability in education
Support equitable, healthy, and safe school environments
To this end, ATIXA supports:
- Providing targeted mental health services, particularly those that support students who have been impacted by discrimination or abuse
- Advancing policies that promote positive school climates that are inclusive and free from discrimination
- Requiring educational institutions to establish a comprehensive approach to student mental health, which can include behavioral intervention teams to support student well-being and safety
- Increasing resources for professional development and training for school staff who provide student support services and enforce civil rights compliance
- Offering comprehensive, age-appropriate prevention education and training for students and employees
How do I provide a testimonial, personal story, or message of support?
ATIXA would like to request any personal stories and/or testimonials from our members regarding your history in the field of racial equity, disability discrimination, sex and gender discrimination, and Title IX.
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For those who prefer to upload a video statement regarding any personal stories, and/or testimonials regarding your history in the field of racial equity, disability discrimination, sex and gender discrimination, and Title IX.
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Public Counsel Supports the Nomination of Catherine Lhamon
The nation's largest pro-bono law firm supports the nomination of Catherine Lhamon
Read Press ReleasePresident Biden Nominates Catherine Lhamon to the Department of Education
President Biden announces his intent to nominate Catherine Lhamon for Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights at the Department of Education
Read Statement NowJune 2021 Legislative Policy Corner
Office for Civil Rights hearing on protections for students, loan repayment, targeted loan cancellation programs, and other higher education regulations
Read the Policy Corner NowJuly 2021 Legislative Policy Corner
Supporting the Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act & lets take action on the BIG Act
Read the Policy Corner NowAugust 2021 Legislative Policy Corner
The Office for Civil Rights listening session with ATIXA & transgender student-athletes anti-discrimination Federal Guidance disputed by 21 Republican state attorneys in a letter to the White House
Read the Policy Corner NowSeptember 2021 Legislative Policy Corner
Read now about the Title IX provisions under the Trump-era found unlawful by a Federal judge & more information about how two transgender children sue Tennessee over school bathroom law
Read the Policy Corner NowOctober 2021 Legislative Policy Corner
Read about two federal and two state updates regarding grants, a U.S. Department of Education confirmation, and a University protest regarding sexual assault reporting
Read the Policy Corner NowNovember 2021 Legislative Policy Corner
Read about Catherine Lhamon's confirmation, a Pennsylvania sexual violence legislative package, and the continued debate about K-12 transgender students and school sports.
Read the Policy Corner NowDecember 2021 Legislative Policy Corner
Read about the Office for Civil Rights' proposed data collection and information request, a Congressional letter sent to the Secretary of Education, comments made by Brett A. Sokolow, J.D., President, ATIXA on NBC Nightly News regarding an investigation into Southlake, TX schools, and student protests on campuses regarding Betsy Devos's Title IX amendment.
Read the Policy Corner NowJanuary 2022 Legislative Policy Corner
Read ATIXA's 2021 Legislative Policy Report and 2022 goals.
Read the Policy Corner NowFebruary 2022 Legislative Policy Corner
Read about a transgender college student's complaint being investigated by the U.S. Department of Education and the Title IX Take Responsibility Act.
Read the Policy Corner NowMarch 2022 Legislative Policy Corner
Read about OCR's data collection survey, the passing of the sexual assault and harassment arbitration prohibiting bill, and South Dakota's sports bill regarding participation by gender assigned at birth.
Read the Policy Corner NowApril 2022 Legislative Policy Corner
Read details about the virtual Congressional briefing with ATIXA and the Gender Equity in College Sports Commission Act.
Read the Policy Corner NowMay 2022 Legislative Policy Corner
Read about ATIXA's meeting with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs to provide input on the the proposed draft Title IX (sexual harassment) Rule.
Read the Policy Corner Now
ATIXA Written Submission to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
How to Fix Title IX
Read Now
ATIXA Written Submission to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
2020 Regulations, a Line by Line Commentary
Read Now
ATIXA's Verbal Comments: June 11, 2021 Title IX Live Hearings
Brett A. Sokolow, J.D., President of ATIXA spoke at the live hearings
Read Now
ATIXA Written Submission to the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
Increasing Protections for Students, Loan Repayment, Targeted Loan Cancellation Programs, and Other Higher Education Regulations
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ATIXA's Verbal Comments: June 21, 2021 Title IX Live Hearings
Ryan Thompson, Esq., Affiliated Consultant, Publications Committee, and ATIXA Member spoke at the live hearings
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