Introduction of DC’s “Title IX Athletic Equity Act of 2013” Shows that Data Matters

Yesterday I got to see how local government can provide tools to help fight for a level playing field in athletics. Together with the Sankofa Project, the Center was proud to be recognized for their work on a bill introduced by D.C. Council member Kenyan R. McDuffie with unanimous Council support.

The proposed legislation would require D.C. public schools to disclose certain key athletics equity data by gender on an annual basis, such as

• enrollment and sports participation numbers by gender and race;
• coach-to-athlete ratios;
• compensation, qualifications and duties of coaches;
• funding sources and spending;
• scheduling and post-season play;
• training and academic support; and
• quality of facilities and equipment.

Under the bill, all of this information would be required to be publicly available on the city’s website. The bill also requires the Mayor to provide a public list of schools that are not in compliance, develop a 5-year plan for achieving equity in school athletics, create procedures for grievances, and name District-wide and school Title IX Athletic Coordinators, as well as an NCAA Eligibility and Athletic Scholarship Coordinator.

Colleges are required by federal law to disclose similar data on a regular basis, but there is no federal law requiring elementary and secondary schools to do the same. The Center had to request information from the D.C. Public Schools through the Freedom of Information Act as part of our ongoing Title IX complaint, and that was a long and tedious process that did not result in complete information.  This much needed legislation would arm parents with information about how their schools are treating girls in sports and will help them bring any inequalities to light so that schools can correct them. Given the many benefits that girls get from playing sports, it is vital that communities have access to such data.