Title IX
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) is a Federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of gender in all education programs and activities. Title IX keeps students safe and in school by reducing barriers and protecting students from an environment that interferes with educational programs or activities or that creates an intimidating, offensive, or hostile educational climate.
ABCUSD students of all genders who are experiencing any form of abuse, dating or sexual violence, (cyber)stalking and/or harassment, bullying or discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity are protected under the Title IX law.
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces Title IX which prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Areas include:
ABCUSD Sexual Harassment Policy: BP 5145.7(a)
ABC is committed to maintaining a safe school environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. Sexual harassment targeted at any student by anyone is prohibited at school or at school-sponsored or school-related activities. Retaliatory behavior or action against any person who reports, files a complaint or testifies about, or otherwise supports a complainant in alleging sexual harassment is also prohibited.
The District strongly encourages any student who feels that they are being or have been sexually harassed on school grounds or at a school-sponsored or school-related activity by another student or an adult, or who have experienced off-campus sexual harassment that has a continuing effect on campus, to immediately contact their teacher, the principal, the District’s Students Title IX Coordinator, or any other available school employee.
What is sexual harassment and what does it look like in schools?
Sexual Harassment is an umbrella term for any unwelcome comment, action, or behavior of a sexual nature. Harassing comments include catcalling, inappropriate/unwanted comments about a person’s body or sexual orientation, shaming, and explicit and unwanted jokes.
Types of sexual harassment include:
- Verbal expressions/nicknames (e.g. lover, cutie, honey, darling, hey baby)
- Compliments/remarks about body or clothes
- Asking someone out who has already turned you down
- Suggestive or obscene notes, poems, or love letters
- Gifts
- Epithets, slurs, profanity, or sexual insults (regardless of gender)
- Discussion of inappropriate/personal issues
- Prying questions about the individual’s personal or sex life
- Spreading rumors of a sexual nature
- Sexual propositions
- Teasing (including teaching based on sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation)
- Jokes/double meaning
- Comments about anatomy
- Comments about the harasser’s sex life
- Sexist comments
Visual Harassment
- Leering/staring
- Sexual gestures
- Offensive, derogatory and/or sexually-oriented posters, photographs, pictures, or cartoons; E-mails or drawings; or objects.
- Reading sexual magazines at school
- Viewing pornography on the internet
- Viewing sexually explicit or derogatory websites
Physical Harassment
- Rape or assault
- Grabbing/touching
- Unwanted hugging
- Intentionally brushing up against someone
- Caressing or massaging shoulders
- Cornering someone so he or she has to stop and talk or listen to you
- Patting/touching – “touchy-feely”
- Blocking an individual’s normal movement