	Background

Research has found that girls’ participation in sports has increased  dramatically since the passage of Title IX. Districts are required  to designate an employee to coordinate efforts under Title IX, and to  make this Title IX coordinator visible. Athletics Administrators Reported Schools Took Some Steps to Encourage Equal Opportunities, but About Half Did Not Receive Title IX Coordinator Support

		To Encourage Equal Opportunities, the Majority of Athletics Administrators Reported That Their Schools Assessed Resources Provided to Boys’ and Girls’ Teams

The majority of public high schools assessed some aspects of their sports  programs over the past 2 years to encourage equal opportunities for  boys’ and girls’ sports teams, according to our nationally generalizable  survey of athletics administrators. Some Athletics Administrators Reported That Their Schools Used Surveys and Other Tools to Gauge Student Sports Interests, Which Can Help Encourage Equal Opportunities

In addition to assessing the various school and booster club resources  provided to boys’ and girls’ teams, some schools recently took steps to  gauge student interest in specific sports as a means of encouraging equal  opportunities, according to our survey. In addition, OCR guidance describes tools that schools and school  districts can use to assess for themselves whether action is needed to  address any underrepresentation, or to otherwise encourage equal  athletic opportunities. Given the significant number of athletics administrators who reported  being unaware of or unsupported by their Title IX coordinators, our survey  results raise questions as to whether Title IX coordinators—whom school  districts must designate and make visible in accordance with Title IX  regulations—are familiar with and using OCR’s guidance on their role and  responsibilities. OCR officials said that they had learned from their complaint  investigations and compliance reviews that some athletics administrators  were not working with their districts’ Title IX coordinators. However, these  officials said they did not know the extent to which Title IX coordinators  themselves were aware of and using the tools recommended in their  guidance because, outside of these enforcement activities, OCR  generally does not collect information on Title IX coordinators’ knowledge  of or activities related to the guidance. Of the nine subject  matter specialists we interviewed for this report, six described specific  knowledge of factors that encourage or discourage participation in high  school sports. The gap may be  particularly acute for minority girls, according to one subject matter  specialist. Competing responsibilities. In its written comments, Education stated that it partially concurs with our  recommendation that OCR determine the extent of K-12 Title IX  coordinators’ knowledge and use of tools in its existing guidance and use  this information in its efforts to encourage them to work with athletics  administrators to help ensure equal athletic opportunities. Appendix I: Scope and Methodology

The objectives of this study were to examine: (1) what measures public  high schools and athletics administrators have taken to encourage equal  athletic opportunities for boys and girls, and (2) what factors affect boys’  and girls’ participation levels in public high school sports programs. Web-based Survey of Public High School Athletics Administrators

To obtain school-level perspectives on factors that affect boys’ and girls’  participation levels in public high school sports programs and approaches  schools and athletics administrators have used to encourage equal  athletic opportunities, we designed and administered a survey to athletics  administrators at a generalizable, stratified random sample of public high  schools in the United States. Review of Law, Regulations, and Guidance and Interviews with Education Officials

To understand the requirements for providing equal athletic opportunities  in public high schools and how Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR)  monitors and supports public school districts in meeting these  requirements, we reviewed Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments  (Title IX), Education’s Title IX regulations, and related guidance  documents.
Why GAO Did This Study

Research has found that sports participation yields many benefits for youth. Girls' participation in sports has increased dramatically since the passage of Title IX in 1972, but is still lower than for boys. Further, investigations by OCR, which enforces and implements Title IX, have highlighted instances of disparities in the resources provided to girls' and boys' teams.
GAO was asked to review how public high schools encourage equal athletic opportunities. This report examines (1) measures public high schools and athletics administrators have taken to encourage equal athletic opportunities for boys and girls, and (2) factors that affect boys' and girls' participation levels in public high school sports programs. GAO conducted a nationally generalizable probability survey of athletics administrators at 784 public high schools. GAO interviewed nine subject matter specialists selected to provide a range of perspectives. GAO also reviewed relevant federal laws, regulations, and guidance and interviewed OCR officials.

What GAO Found

According to GAO's nationally generalizable survey of athletics administrators, public high schools recently took various measures to encourage equal opportunities for boys and girls in sports. For example, a majority assessed resources such as equipment, travel opportunities, and facilities that they provided to girls' and boys' teams and some schools took steps to gauge student interest in specific sports as a means of encouraging equal opportunities, according to GAO's survey. Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) guidance indicates that Title IX coordinators—which school districts are required to designate and make visible per regulations for Title IX of the 1972 Education Amendments (Title IX)—should work closely with athletics administrators to determine whether action is needed to address any underrepresentation, or to otherwise encourage equal athletic opportunities. However, GAO estimates that 51 percent of athletics administrators either were unaware of or unsupported by their Title IX coordinator, according to the survey (see figure). These findings raise questions as to whether Title IX coordinators are familiar with and using Education's guidance. Officials from an association for Title IX coordinators said this lack of communication with athletics administrators may be related to some Title IX coordinators' limited understanding of Title IX and athletics. OCR officials said that they did not know the extent to which Title IX coordinators are working with their athletics administrators to encourage equal athletic opportunities because Education generally does not collect this information. Better information on Title IX coordinators could help Education support school districts' efforts to encourage equal sports opportunities for girls and boys.
The factors that most affect boys' and girls' participation in public high school sports are the number of, and interest in, participation opportunities offered, according to GAO's survey and interviews with nine subject matter specialists. Though the survey provided no clear consensus on factors that discourage students from participating in sports, athletics administrators most often perceived students' competing responsibilities as discouraging participation.

What GAO Recommends

GAO is recommending that OCR determine the extent of K-12 Title IX coordinators' knowledge and use of tools in its existing guidance and use this information in its efforts to encourage them to work with athletics administrators to help ensure equal athletic opportunities. Education partially concurred, stating it would consider GAO's recommendation in its complaint investigations, technical assistance activities, and communication practice reviews.