Short title

This Act may be cited as the

Patsy T. Mink and Louise M. Slaughter Gender Equity in Education Act of 2021

Findings

Congress finds the following:(1)Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) (in this Act referred to as title IX) and the implementing regulations of title IX prohibit sex discrimination in federally funded education programs and activities. (2)Although title IX requires that schools treat students equally with regard to athletic participation opportunities, athletic scholarships, and the benefits and services provided to athletic teams, female participation rates, especially for girls of color, lag far behind male participation rates. Nationally, for example, boys receive more than 1,130,000 more opportunities to play high school sports than girls.(3)Furthermore, a recent study from the Women’s Sports Foundation found that African-American youth and youth from low-income households were least likely to be current players (35 percent, and 28 percent respectively) and most likely to have never played sports (49 percent, and 54 percent respectively) compared to others. These disparities were especially prominent for girls from low-income families (25 percent current players, 58 percent never played) and African-American families (28 percent current players, 55 percent never played). The gaps in participation in high school sports have not significantly narrowed in the past 20 years—with 40 percent of predominantly minority-serving high schools having large gaps between the percentage of spots on teams for girls and the percentage of students who are girls (compared to only 16 percent of predominantly White high schools that have such gaps).(4)Female student athletes have been found to have higher levels of self-esteem, as well as reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and breast cancer, compared to those who do not play sports. In addition, female student athletes are more likely to graduate from high school than female students who do not play sports. Girls who play sports in high school go on to earn 7 percent higher annual wages than those who do not play sports, and are more likely to enter the labor force and pursue higher-skill, previously male-dominated positions. Generally, sports participation for women is associated with a lower prevalence of experiencing intimate partner violence, reinforcing that athletic access not only strengthens health, educational, and workplace outcomes, but also personal safety. (5)Although the availability of athletic scholarships facilitates access to higher education, many institutions of higher education fail to award proportional athletic financial aid to women, which can affect their long-term employment outcomes and economic security. According to the Department of Education’s Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act data from 2019, male athletes at NCAA Division I and II schools received $240,000,000 more in athletic scholarships than female athletes at those schools. (6)Although title IX ensures gender equity in career and technical education, women are severely underrepresented in fields nontraditional to their gender. A recent study by the National Coalition for Women and Girls in Education indicated that women make up more than 80 percent of workers with training or certification in historically women-dominated occupations that pay less than $30,000 per year, including child care, early childhood education, home care, and cosmetology. Women represent less than 40 percent of workers trained or certified in high-paying and historically male-dominated fields, including transportation, advanced manufacturing, and construction.(7)Although title IX ensures gender equity in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (in this section referred to as STEM) education, women are disproportionately lost at nearly every stage of the STEM pipeline. A recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics showed that women earned only 32 percent of all STEM degrees in 2017, and nearly 1/2 of these women were White. Women of color earned about 12 percent of STEM degrees in that same year. Furthermore, in STEM fields where women are particularly underrepresented, such as computing and engineering, women earned an even smaller percentage of degrees, including only 19 percent of computing bachelor's degrees, and 21 percent of engineering bachelor's degrees.(8)Although title IX prohibits sex discrimination in employment in federally funded education programs, a recent report by the American Association of University Women found that women comprise only 36 percent of tenured faculty and 30 percent of university presidents. A similar study by the National Science Foundation confirmed that women only hold 34 percent of all tenured and tenure-track positions, and 27 percent of full professor positions in STEM fields. Furthermore, Black and Latina women, together, hold only 4 percent of all tenured and tenure-track positions, and barely over 2 percent of full professor positions in STEM fields. Asian-American women hold around 5 percent of all tenured and tenure-track positions, and less than 3 percent of full professor positions in STEM fields.(9)Although title IX protects against sexual and sex-based harassment and violence, more than 50 percent of girls and 40 percent of boys in grades 7 through 12 experience sexual harassment each year, and approximately 10 percent of high school students experience dating violence each year. A recent GLSEN report indicated that 87 percent of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (referred to in this section as LGBTQ) students have experienced harassment or assault based on a personal characteristic, and nearly 66 percent have experienced LGBTQ-related verbal harassment at school based on sexual orientation. Research has shown that LGBTQ students who experience harassment at school are more likely to experience depression and anxiety, to engage in unhealthy and antisocial behaviors, and to have more unexcused absences from school.(10)Although title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of pregnancy or parenting status, the limited availability of accommodations, including lactation accommodations, excused absences for pregnancy-related medical conditions, and child care needs (including caring for a sick child) is a leading reasons that parenting mothers drop out of high school. A recent report by the National Women’s Law Center indicated that only half of teenage mothers earn a high school diploma by the age of 22, compared with 89 percent of women who do not have a child during their teenage years, and that one-third of young mothers will never get a diploma or GED, further limiting continuing opportunities for education and employment.(11)Although title IX protects against discrimination based on stereotypes of actual or perceived sex, many people carry implicit or unconscious biases that can unintentionally influence attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and decision-making processes. Research has shown that unconscious biases can impact classroom environments, teaching methods, student evaluations, disciplinary practices, and career and counseling guidance, which can lead to discrimination against students based on race, color, national origin, and disability, particularly for students who are pursuing nontraditional fields.(12)Nationally, the Feminist Majority Foundation has estimated at least 100,000 title IX coordinators are needed, but a recent report only identified 23,000 title IX coordinators in 2016. The Feminist Majority Foundation has found that schools serving children in prekindergarten through grade 12 rarely have their own title IX coordinators.

Definitions

In this Act:(1)

ESEA definitions

The terms elementary school, institution of higher education, local educational agency, secondary school, and State educational agency have the meanings given those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801).(2)

Director

The term Director means the Director of the Office for Gender Equity established under section 5(a).(3)

Educational entity

The term educational entity means any of the following entities that receive Federal funds:(A)A State educational agency.(B)A local educational agency.(C)An institution of higher education.(D)An elementary school or secondary school.(4)

Gender identity

The term gender identity means the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s designated sex at birth.(5)

National gender equity infrastructure

The term national gender equity infrastructure means the horizontal and vertical network of title IX coordinators and their allies who work to advance gender equity and eliminate discrimination in the United States.(6)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of Education.(7)

Sex

The term sex includes—(A)a sex stereotype;(B)pregnancy, childbirth, or a related medical condition;(C)sexual orientation or gender identity; and(D)sex characteristics, including intersex traits.(8)

Sexual orientation

The term sexual orientation means homosexuality, heterosexuality, or bisexuality.(9)

Title IX coordinator

The term title IX coordinator means a responsible employee, as described in section 106.8(a) of title 34, Code of Federal Regulations, or successor regulations, designated to coordinate efforts under title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.).

Purposes

The purposes of this Act are to—(1)advance gender equity in education in the United States;(2)support educational entities so that such entities have the support to fully implement title IX;(3)provide title IX coordinators with training, technical assistance, and support to fully carry out their roles and responsibilities;(4)increase general awareness about the rights and obligations of individuals and entities under title IX;(5)identify, implement, and disseminate best practices for reducing and preventing sex discrimination in all areas of education;(6)promote educational environments that are safe and free of sexual and sex-based bullying, harassment, and violence; (7)promote equity in education for students who face discrimination based on multiple characteristics, including—(A)race and color;(B)ethnicity;(C)national origin;(D)disability status;(E)religion;(F)age; or(G)actual or perceived sex; and(8)promote activities that strengthen the national gender equity infrastructure.

Establishment of an Office for Gender Equity

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall establish an Office for Gender Equity. The Director of the Office for Gender Equity shall be the Special Assistant for Gender Equity, as authorized under section 202(b)(3) of the Department of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 3412(b)(3)). The Director of the Office for Gender Equity shall report directly to the Secretary.(b)

Duties

The Office for Gender Equity shall be responsible for the following:(1)Supporting educational entities in the full implementation of title IX.(2)Providing title IX coordinators with training, technical assistance, and support to fully carry out their roles and responsibilities.(3)Providing grants to implement programs and activities that are focused on reducing and preventing sex discrimination in all areas of education.(4)Identifying and disseminating information and evidence-based best practices for reducing and preventing sex discrimination in all areas of education.(5)Maintaining an Office for Gender Equity resource center website to disseminate information and evidence-based best practices for achieving gender equity.(6)Performing any other activity consistent with achieving the purposes of this Act.(c)

Coordination

To carry out the purposes of this Act, the Secretary shall coordinate with other relevant Federal offices and agencies, including—(1)the White House Gender Policy Council;(2)the White House Domestic Policy Council;(3)the Office for Civil Rights of the Department of Education;(4)the Institute of Education Sciences; (5)the Women's Bureau of the Department of Labor;(6)the Office on Women's Health of the Department of Health and Human Services;(7)the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice;(8)the Office on Violence Against Women of the Department of Justice;(9)the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention;(10)the Office of Safe and Healthy Students of the Department of Education; and(11)other entities determined relevant for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

Support for title IX coordinators

(a)

In general

The Director shall provide coordination, training, technical assistance, and support for title IX coordinators to ensure that educational entities are able to fully implement title IX and reduce and prevent sex discrimination in all areas of education.(b)

Title IX coordinator training

(1)

In general

Not less than once a year, the Director shall conduct a training for all title IX coordinators, which shall address the different needs of elementary and secondary schools and postsecondary institutions. The training may be conducted in partnership with a national organization with relevant expertise, and may be completed online or in person.(2)

Contents of training

The training described in paragraph (1) shall include the following information:(A)The role and responsibility of title IX coordinators.(B)Information and evidence-based best practices for increasing awareness about rights and obligations under title IX.(C)Information and evidence-based best practices for investigating and responding to claims of violations of title IX.(D)Information and evidence-based best practices for identifying and preventing implicit and explicit sex discrimination in all areas of education, including—(i)recruitment and admissions;(ii)teaching practices, textbooks, and curricula;(iii)campus safety and security;(iv)financial assistance;(v)access to facilities, resources, and housing;(vi)access to course offerings;(vii)student health services and insurance benefits;(viii)counseling and career guidance;(ix)athletics;(x)discipline policies;(xi)employment; and(xii)other areas that the Director determines are relevant for such purposes.(3)

Application of Training

(A)

In General

The Director shall take steps to ensure that the trainings described in paragraph (1)—(i)are adapted, as necessary, to address issues of sex discrimination at all levels of education;(ii)are updated with the latest information and evidence-based best practices; and(iii)address recent trends in sex discrimination.(B)

Attention to discrimination based on multiple characteristics

The Director shall take steps to ensure that such trainings include attention to students who face discrimination based on multiple characteristics, including—(i)race and color;(ii)ethnicity;(iii)national origin;(iv)disability status;(v)religion;(vi)age; or(vii)actual or perceived sex.(C)

Evaluation

The Director shall—(i)develop and conduct pre- and post-training evaluations to assess the effectiveness of such trainings in improving the knowledge of the roles and responsibilities of title IX coordinators; and(ii)use such evaluations to update the title IX coordinator trainings annually.(c)

Handbook for conducting title IX compliance self-Evaluations

The Director shall develop a handbook for conducting self-evaluations of compliance with title IX in all areas of education, as described in subsection (b)(2)(D).(d)

Assessment of title IX coordinator support

The Director shall collect relevant data and statistics on all title IX coordinators, including demographic information for gender, race, and ethnicity, salary information, budgets, and primary roles, in order to make recommendations for improving title IX coordinator support.(e)

Dissemination

The Director shall ensure that the workplace contact information of all title IX coordinators and any training materials or information developed under this section are made available on the Office for Gender Equity resource center website, described in section 5(b)(5).

Support for local implementation

(a)

Grants authorized

(1)

In general

The Secretary, acting through the Director, is authorized to award grants to eligible entities to support such eligible entities in fully implementing title IX and reducing and preventing sex discrimination in all areas of education.(2)

Eligible Entity

In this section, the term eligible entity means—(A)a State educational agency;(B)a local educational agency;(C)an institution of higher education;(D)an elementary school or secondary school; or(E)a partnership consisting of—(i)an entity described in subparagraphs (A) through (D); and(ii)a national organization with relevant expertise, or another entity that the Secretary determines has relevant expertise.(b)

Use of funds

An eligible entity receiving a grant shall use such funds to carry out programs and activities designed to fully implement title IX and prevent and reduce sex discrimination, including programs and activities that—(1)increase awareness of and counteract sex stereotypes, biases, and discrimination;(2)include trainings for students, teachers, faculty, and all personnel to learn about best practices for reducing and preventing sex discrimination in all areas of education;(3)increase access to school, campus, and community resources, facilities, and course offerings;(4)support title IX coordinators in performing outreach, advocacy, and education about title IX and reducing and preventing sex discrimination;(5)are aimed at identifying patterns or systemic problems in compliance with title IX;(6)strengthen prevention education and awareness programs regarding sexual and sex-based harassment and violence;(7)develop, conduct and analyze evidence-based campus climate and victimization surveys;(8)include institutional assessment activities to identify areas and causes of gender inequities;(9)make efforts to improve progress on gender equity indicators as described in subsection (c)(2)(A); (10)make efforts to improve accuracy in measurement, data collection, and reporting of gender equity indicators as described in subsection (c)(2)(A); and(11)make efforts to strengthen the national gender equity infrastructure, which may include hiring a dedicated employee to serve as a title IX coordinator. (c)

Applications

(1)

In general

An eligible entity desiring a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may reasonably require.(2)

Contents of application

Each application submitted by an eligible entity under this section shall include the following:(A)A description of locally defined and documented gender equity needs and priorities, which may include any of the following indicators:(i)Academic indicators, including performance on State assessments, enrollment, admission, attrition, time to completion, and graduation rates.(ii)Civil rights data, including statistics on bullying, harassment, violence, discipline, and expulsion.(iii)Campus climate and victimization data.(iv)Employment data.(v)Athletics equity data. (vi)Attendance and absenteeism data.(vii)Evidence of burden on title IX coordinators, including coordinator to student ratio and competing responsibilities.(viii)Other documentation of need that the Secretary determines is relevant.(B)A description of the evidence that will serve as the basis for the activities that the eligible entity proposes to carry out using grant funds under this section.(C)A description of the activities that the eligible entity proposes to carry out using grant funds under this section.(D)A description of how the proposed activities will be adapted, as necessary, to meet the needs of students who face discrimination based on multiple characteristics, including—(i)race and color;(ii)ethnicity;(iii)national origin;(iv)disability status;(v)religion;(vi)age; or(vii)actual or perceived sex.(E)A description of how the proposed activities will help the eligible entity fully implement title IX.(F)A description of a plan for how the proposed activities under this section will continue with local support following completion of the grant period and termination of Federal funding.(G)A description of how the proposed activities are a significant component of a comprehensive plan for gender equity in education and full implementation of title IX.(d)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed as prohibiting persons of any sex or gender from participating in any of the programs or activities funded under this section.(e)

Award basis

(1)

Merit review

Grants shall be awarded under this section on a competitive basis.(2)

Priorities

(A)

In General

The Secretary shall establish criteria for determining which eligible entities shall have priority in receiving a grant under this section.(B)

Level of priority

The criteria described in subparagraph (A) may include a consideration of the extent to which the application demonstrates that the eligible entity—(i)has demonstrated a high need for gender equity assistance based on indicators described in subsection (c)(2)(A) and a high commitment to addressing these issues;(ii)will address the needs of students who face discrimination based on multiple characteristics, including—(I)race and color;(II)ethnicity;(III)national origin;(IV)disability status;(V)religion;(VI)age; or(VII)actual or perceived sex;(iii)will address relevant issues of national significance through solutions that can be replicated;(iv)will implement an institutional change strategy with a long-term impact that will continue to be a central activity of the eligible entity upon termination of the grant; (v)will serve a high percentage of low-income students; and(vi)will serve a high percentage of racially diverse students. (C)

Special rule

To the extent practicable, the Secretary shall ensure that grants awarded under this section, for each fiscal year, address—(i)all levels of education, including—(I)elementary and secondary education;(II)undergraduate and graduate education;(III)postdoctoral education and research;(IV)career and technical education; and(V)adult education;(ii)all regions of the United States; and(iii)urban, rural, and suburban educational entities.(f)

Evaluation and dissemination

(1)

Evaluation

(A)

In General

Each eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall conduct an assessment about the extent to which the eligible entity made progress on the indicators under subsection (c)(2)(A).(B)

Assessment

An eligible entity may work in partnership with the Institute of Education Sciences to conduct such assessment.(C)

Use by secretary

Not later than 1 year after receiving the grant award, the eligible entity shall submit a report to the Secretary containing the results of such assessment. The Secretary shall use those reports in order to build the knowledge base on promising models for preventing and reducing sex discrimination across all areas and levels of education.(2)

Dissemination

The Secretary shall coordinate with the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences and other relevant Federal offices and agencies to—(A)ensure that the results of the activities carried out under this section are made readily available on the Office for Gender Equity resource center website; and(B)widely disseminate the results described in subparagraph (A) to relevant Federal offices, and agencies, educational entities and the general public.

Research and development

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall coordinate with the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences and other relevant Federal offices and agencies and entities to investigate, identify, and disseminate best practices to fully implement title IX and reduce and prevent sex discrimination in all areas of education, including—(1)the reduction and prevention of sex stereotyping, bias, and discrimination in curricula, textbooks, software, and other educational materials;(2)the development of policies and programs to—(A)address and prevent sexual and sex-based harassment and violence;(B)ensure that schools and campuses are free from threats to the safety of students, teachers, faculty, and personnel; and(C)ensure athletic programs are equitable;(3)the development and evaluation of—(A)counseling and career guidance training; and(B)programs to reduce and prevent sex stereotyping, bias, and discrimination;(4)best practices for mitigating implicit bias in teaching, discipline, and all areas of education;(5)best practices for addressing the needs of students who face discrimination based on multiple characteristics, including—(A)race and color;(B)ethnicity;(C)national origin;(D)disability status;(E)religion;(F)age; or(G)actual or perceived sex; and(6)other activities that the Secretary determines are consistent with the purposes of this Act.(b)

Dissemination

The best practices described under subsection (a) shall be published on the Office for Gender Equity resource center website, as described in section 5(b)(5), and the What Works Clearinghouse website of the Institute of Education Sciences.

Report; dissemination

(a)

Report to Congress

Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act and every 2 years thereafter, the Secretary shall publish a report on the steps the Department of Education has taken to—(1)support educational entities in fully implementing title IX and reducing and preventing sex discrimination;(2)provide coordination, training, and resources for title IX coordinators to fully carry out their roles and responsibilities; and(3)promote equity in education for students who face discrimination based on multiple characteristics, including—(A)race and color;(B)ethnicity;(C)national origin;(D)disability status;(E)religion;(F)age; or(G)actual or perceived sex.(b)

Dissemination

The Secretary shall coordinate with the Director of the Institute of Education Sciences and the heads of relevant Federal agencies to ensure that the results of trainings, activities, evaluations, and research developments under this Act are made readily available on the Office for Gender Equity resource center website and disseminated widely to other relevant Federal agencies and offices, educational entities, and the general public.

10.

Rule of Construction

Nothing in this Act shall be construed—(1)as modifying any provision of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.); or(2)as affecting the enforcement of such title by the Department of Education, the Department of Justice, or any other Federal agency.

11.

Authorization of appropriations

(a)

In general

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act $160,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022 through 2026.(b)

Use

From amounts made available to carry out this Act for each fiscal year, the Secretary shall use not less than $140,000,000 of such amounts to award grants under section 7.