    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book I)]
    [June 17, 1997]
    [Pages 755-756]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Memorandum on Strengthening Title IX Enforcement and Addressing
    Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Race, Color, and National Origin
    June 17, 1997

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Strengthening Title IX Enforcement and Addressing
    Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, Race, Color, and National Origin in
    Federally Conducted Education Programs and Activities

        As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of Title IX of the Education
    Amendments of 1972, we should pause to recognize the significant
    progress our Nation has made in increasing educational possibilities for
    women and girls and recommit ourselves to the goals of this important
    legislation. Title IX has broken down barriers and expanded
    opportunities--opening classroom doors, playing fields, and even the
    frontiers of space to women and girls across this country.
        My Administration is working hard to expand further opportunities
    for women and girls. We have stepped up enforcement of civil rights
    statutes in areas such as access to advanced math and science programs.
    We have issued policy guidance on racial and sexual harassment and on
    ensuring equal opportunities in intercollegiate athletics. We have
    aggressively litigated cases presenting significant issues of
    discrimination, including cases challenging the exclusion of women from
    the Virginia Military Institute and the Citadel. My Administration has
    also sponsored an education campaign to help young girls build skills,
    confidence, and good health. Finally, my Administration has reaped the
    benefits of an ever-increasing pool of superbly qualified women, making
    it possible for me to appoint record numbers of women to my Cabinet,
    judicial posts, and to high levels of decision-making throughout the
    Federal Government.
        Yet more needs to be done. Our Nation can reach its full potential
    only when all of our citizens have the opportunity to reach their full
    potential and contribute to our society. Today, I am announcing two
    important next steps in our fight to reach true equality in education.
        First, I am directing executive departments and agencies to develop
    vigorous, new Title IX enforcement plans. We must ensure that all
    Federal agencies that provide financial assistance to education programs
    or activities take all necessary steps to ensure that programs and
    institutions receiving Federal money do not discriminate on the basis of
    sex.
        I therefore direct all heads of executive departments and agencies
    that provide financial assistance to education programs or activities,
    following consultation with the Attorney General, to report to me within
    90 days on measures to ensure effective enforcement of Title IX. This
    should include a description of department or agency priorities for
    enforcement, methods to make recipients of Federal financial assistance
    aware of their obligation not to discriminate, and grievance procedures
    to handle Title IX complaints. In accordance with Executive Order 12250,
    the Attorney General should coordinate implementation of these measures.
        Second, I am asking executive departments and agencies to take
    appropriate action against discrimination in education programs or
    activities conducted by the Federal Government. Currently, Title IX
    generally prohibits discrimination based on sex--and Title VI of the
    Civil Rights Act of 1964 generally prohibits discrimination on the basis
    of race, color, or national origin--in education programs or activities
    that receive Federal financial assistance. However, these laws do not
    apply to comparable education programs or activities that are conducted
    by the

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    Federal Government. I believe it is essential that the Federal
    Government hold itself to the same principles of nondiscrimination in
    educational opportunities that we now apply to education programs and
    activities of State and local governments and private institutions
    receiving Federal financial assistance.
        Applying these principles to appropriate Federally conducted
    education programs and activities will complement existing laws and
    regulations that prohibit other forms of discrimination in Federally
    conducted education programs--including discrimination against people
    with disabilities (prohibited by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) and
    discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin
    against Federal employees (prohibited by Title VII of the Civil Rights
    Act of 1964).
        I therefore direct all heads of executive departments and agencies
    to report to the Attorney General within 60 days:
           (1)  identifying and describing education programs or activities
                conducted by the executive department or agency (including
                the approximate budget and size of the program). An
                education program or activity includes any civilian
                academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training,
                or other education activity conducted by the Federal
                Government. Examples of Federally conducted education
                programs would include elementary and secondary schools
                operated by the Department of Defense for dependent children
                of eligible personnel; Federally conducted educational
                research; and educational fellowships awarded directly by
                Federal agencies to students; and
           (2)  describing any substantive or procedural issues that might
                arise under these education programs or activities related
                to prohibiting discrimination based on sex, race, color, and
                national origin in the program or activity, in order to aid
                in determining where application of remedial efforts would
                be appropriate.
        On the basis of these reports, I intend to issue an Executive order
    implementing appropriate restrictions against sex, race, color, and
    national origin discrimination in Federally conducted education
    programs. I direct the Attorney General to report to me within 60 days
    after receiving these reports with the results of her review and a
    proposal for an appropriate and effective Executive order.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    Note: The memorandum referred to title IX of the Education Amendments of
    1972 (Public Law 92-318).