Bush Administration Supports Title IX - Sort Of

The Justice Department has asked a district court in Washington, D.C., to dismiss a lawsuit from the National Wrestling Coaches Association that challenges the way in which Title IX was implemented with respect to equal participation. While the legal case does not directly involve football or its coaches, the outcome could. Title IX mandates schools provide sports participation opportunities for men and women proportionally equal to each gender’s enrollment at the institution. At the very least, schools must at least demonstrate a history of program expansion or accommodation of women’s teams. Title IX was originally intended to stimulate and expand sports participation for women and it has done that. It has also led smaller schools to eliminate, or at least strongly consider elimination of the football program, mainly because it’s expensive to operate, schools are required to