TITLE IX and Washington State Public Schools… How are rules changed?
It is no secret that school boards and districts are finding themselves in the crossfires between the state and federal mandates on allowing boys in girls sports and spaces. The
primary question facing school boards is whether they are violating their oath of office by violating Title IX, a 1972 federal law that was enacted to ensure equal educational and athletic opportunities for women. School districts primarily rely on state funding for their operations, however, at a time that funding is unstable, there is a threat to losing up to 20% of state or federal funds.
School boards are vested with authority to supervise, regulate and control secondary level athletic & recreational activities which they annually designate to Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) and pay dues as members of the non-profit association. Two school boards in the state have submitted amendments to the WIAA’s
Gender Identity Participation: Policy 18.16.0 which now allows students to participate in the sports category that they most express and/or identify with.
Amendment #7 originated by Lynden School board proposes two categories: boys (open) and girls (for biological females only). Amendment #8 originated by Eastmont School board proposes three categories: boys, girls and open. Both amendments have been supported in writing by over 27 school districts across the state. The amendments are part of the 16 amendments that will be voted on by WIAA’s representative assembly from April 9-18 via online ballot. The representative assembly is comprised of 53 votes by representatives (who are athletic directors) selected by their respective leagues to cast the vote on their behalf. Schools are part of the leagues that make up WIAA and have a voice through their district athletic director who relays the school vote to their respective leagues.
There are many ways a school can set their school vote. One way is to pass a resolution or a letter of support for amendments 7 & 8, another is to talk with their district athletic director or delegate to confirm with the board on its position on both amendments.
A great resource for any questions and information on the amendments is a website called www.savegirlsportswa.com You can find ways to support restoring Title IX’s intent by responding to the call of action on the website. Our children are worth fighting and there is no better time to engage than NOW.
Khush Brar Speaking as a citizen
Lynden school board member
Well-said, Mark. Girls deserve a chance to engage in fair competition.
Biology determines gender and should be the sole determinant of classification for male or female sport participation. The safety of biological females is at risk if biological males, “identifying as females,” are allowed to compete with biological females. It is a self evident truism that biological males who have established a mediocre sport performance record against biological males and suddenly become sport performance stars when they change their “gender identity” to female to compete with biological females, concurrently violate any logical sense of fairness and this should not be sanctioned by a society which equally values biological women and men while recognizing their physical performance capabilities and differences.