Title IX is the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational institutions. It is Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 (amending the Higher Education Act of 1965). The law states that “no person in the United States shall on the basis of sex be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” In 1987 a further amendment expanded the definition of “program or activity” to include all the operations of an educational institution, governmental agency, or private employer that received federal funds. Following its passage, Title IX was interpreted by the federal government to cover all activities and programs of educational institutions receiving federal funds.
In 1984 the US Supreme Court (Grove City College v. Bell) ruled that Title IX was restricted to only those specific programs or activities funded by federal monies. On March 22, 1988, Congress enacted the Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987, over President Reagan’s veto. This act overturned the Supreme Court’s decision and restored Title IX coverage to apply to the entire institution, regardless of where federal funds are utilized. Title IX was principally authored by Representative Patsy T. Mink (Hawaii) with coauthor Edith Green (Oregon). The law was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act on October 29, 2002, following Mink’s death.