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Title IX Athletics: Portland (ME) Public Schools Compliance Review: (01-11-5001)

On September 26, 2013, OCR resolved this Title IX athletics compliance review with a resolution agreement with the Portland Public Schools (District).  Following its investigation, OCR concluded that the District discriminated against female students by denying them an equal opportunity to participate in its interscholastic athletics program and by failing to provide the opportunity to receive coaching and the provision of locker rooms, practice and competitive fields, that are equivalent to those provided to boys.  Under the terms of the agreement, the District will add girls’ volleyball to its interscholastic athletics program beginning in the 2014-15 school year based on its assessment of student interest and ability in girls’ volleyball; and the District will promote and recruit for the volleyball teams and provide resources and facilities, including locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities, to the new volleyball teams.  The District will also continue to assess student interest and ability and add teams and additional athletic opportunities for girls so that by no later than the 2015-16 school year, the district’s interscholastic athletics program will either fully accommodate the interest of girls in athletics or the number of girls participating in athletics will be in proportion to their enrollment.  The District agreed to ensure that booster club and other private funding are considered as part of the district’s responsibility to provide equivalent athletics benefits and services to both sexes, ensure that locker rooms, practice and competitive facilities for girls’ teams are equivalent to those provided to boys’ teams, and maintain girls’ athletic facilities to ensure they are equitable as compared to the boys’ facilities.
Read the Press Release | Read the Resolution Letter download files PDF (264K) | Read the Resolution Agreement download files PDF (106K)



   
Last Modified: 01/15/2020