An amendment, authored by U.S. Senator and Bothell resident Patty Murray to ensure girls have equal opportunities to participate in sports in elementary and secondary schools, was adopted as part of a major U.S. Senate education overhaul today. The amendment passed in the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s markup of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).
“Forty years ago, Congress passed Title IX and paved the way for women to get involved in athletics at the college level, but we still don’t do enough to ensure that girls of all ages have equal opportunities to get involved in sports,” said Murray. “We know that girls who play sports live healthier lives and succeed in the classroom and their careers, and there’s no reason they shouldn’t have the chance to get involved with sports at an early age.”
Currently, colleges and universities are required to report information on opportunities for women to participate in athletic programs, but there are no federal requirements for elementary and secondary schools to do the same.
This amendment is designed to shine a light on the gap between access to, funding for, and quality of sports programs for girls and boys from Kindergarten through high school by compelling elementary and secondary schools to make information regarding their sports programs public, including participation and funding levels. It is supported by organizations across the country, including:
American Association of University Women
American Volleyball Coaches Association
Annie Appleseed Project
Center for Research on Physical Activity
Sport and Health
D’Youville College
Clearinghouse on Women’s Issues
Equal Rights Advocates
Feminist Majority
Girls Inc.
Healthy Teen Network
Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
National Center for Lesbian Rights
National Council of Women’s Organizations
National Organization for Women Foundation
National Partnership for Women and Families
National Women’s Law Center
Southwest Women’s Law Center
The DadMan
The Myra Sadker Foundation
USA Cheer
U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce
Women’s Law Project
Women’s Sports Foundation
