On April 29, 2014, The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released new guidance describing the responsibilities of colleges, universities and public schools to address sexual violence and other forms of sex discrimination under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Questions and Answers on Title IX and Sexual Violence:
- Provides guidance and examples about key Title IX requirements and how they relate to sexual violence, such as the requirements to publish a policy against sex discrimination, designate a Title IX coordinator, and adopt and publish grievance procedures.
- Discusses proactive efforts schools can take to prevent sexual violence.
- Discusses the interplay between Title IX, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (“FERPA”), and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“Clery Act”) as it relates to a complainant’s right to know the outcome of his or her complaint, including relevant sanctions imposed on the perpetrator.
- Provides examples of remedies and enforcement strategies that schools and OCR may use to respond to sexual violence.
You can access the guidance at http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/qa-201404-title-ix.pdf.
A related “Know Your Rights” document is available in English (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/know-rights-201404-title-ix.pdf) and Spanish (http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/know-rights-201404-title-ix-sp.pdf).
