INDIANAPOLIS, IN (June 24, 2021) — To educate current and future coaches, administrators, parents and student-athletes on Title IX legislation and its monumental influence on high school activities, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced a new “Title IX” course is now available at no cost on the online NFHS Learning Center.

“Title IX has now been around for 49 years, however, the NFHS Learning Center has developed this resource to educate the interscholastic community about the federal legislation in a visual and understandable way,” said Dan Schuster, NFHS director of educational services. “We look forward to providing this free resource across the country.”

Passed June 23, 1972, Title IX outlawed discrimination on the basis of sex within any federally funded educational program or activity and has since served as the flagship legislation for the growth of high school girls athletic programs. Over the course of 49 years, Title IX compliance has generated a dramatic rise in female participation, increasing yearly numbers from less than 300,000 girls nationwide in 1971-72 to the present-day total of more than 3.4 million. 

The NFHS Learning Center’s “Title IX” offering is built to help interscholastic professionals understand the history and impact of Title IX, as well as the responsibilities held by schools and staff members to maintain an equitable balance between boys and girls programs.

The first major section of the course is devoted entirely to the two key components of Title IX compliance for middle schools and high schools – “Effective Accommodations of Athletics Interests and Abilities” (also known as The Three-Prong Test) and “Equivalence of Other Athletic Benefits and Opportunities” (also known as The Laundry List). In addition to simplifying complex language and dissecting the various layers of each component, these sections walk through exactly what schools must accomplish – and avoid – to meet compliance requirements.

Properly incorporating gifts from booster clubs is addressed in the next chapter of the course. Although some contributions can be more significant than others, Title IX mandates that all gifts are factored into the balance of available benefits between the sexes.

The final course topic revolves around the vital role of the Title IX coordinator, which must be appointed in every school in the United States that receives federal financial assistance. The material includes a detailed review of the Title IX coordinator’s responsibilities, which include monitoring the school’s compliance efforts and managing potential violations.

For more information and to access “Title IX” on the NFHS Learning Center, please visit: https://nfhslearn.com/courses/title-ix.

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About the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)

The NFHS, based in Indianapolis, Indiana, is the national leadership organization for high school sports and performing arts activities. Since 1920, the NFHS has led the development of education-based interscholastic sports and performing arts activities that help students succeed in their lives. The NFHS sets direction for the future by building awareness and support, improving the participation experience, establishing consistent standards and rules for competition, and helping those who oversee high school sports and activities. The NFHS writes playing rules for 17 sports for boys and girls at the high school level. Through its 50 member state associations and the District of Columbia, the NFHS reaches more than 19,500 high schools and 12 million participants in high school activity programs, including more than 7.9 million in high school sports. As the recognized national authority on interscholastic activity programs, the NFHS conducts national meetings; sanctions interstate events; offers online publications and services for high school coaches and officials; sponsors professional organizations for high school coaches, officials, speech and debate coaches, and music adjudicators; serves as the national source for interscholastic coach training; and serves as a national information resource of interscholastic athletics and activities. For more information, visit the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Bruce Howard, 317-972-6900

Director of Publications and Communications

National Federation of State High School Associations

bhoward@nfhs.org 

Chris Boone, 317-972-6900

Assistant Director of Publications and Communications

National Federation of State High School Associations

cboone@nfhs.org

Cody Porter, 317-972-6900

Manager of Media Relations

National Federation of State High School Associations

cporter@nfhs.org

Nate Perry, 317-972-6900

Coordinator of Media Relations

National Federation of State High School Associations

nperry@nfhs.org