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Department of Education to Hold Public Hearing about Improving Title IX Enforcement

Department of Education to Hold Public Hearing about Improving Title IX Enforcement

The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) announced on May 17 that it will conduct a five-day virtual public hearing in June to collect information to help improve enforcement of Title IX.

Expected to run from June 7 to June 11, the hearing is part of the OCR’s wider goal of assessing the Department of Education’s existing regulations and regulatory actions concerning Title IX. Those of particular concern are pertinent to implementing President Joe Biden’s March 8 executive order that seeks to eliminate sex discrimination – and especially sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination – from educational environments.

In that vein, the OCR is seeking public comment on how the Department of Education can achieve the following objectives:

  • Ensure schools provide students with educational environments that are free from discrimination that includes sexual harassment, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual violence
  • Ensure that schools have grievance procedures that offer fair, prompt, and equitable resolutions concerning reports of sexual harassment and other forms of sex discrimination, taking into account the sensitive issues that are often involved
  • Address discrimination based upon sexual orientation and identity in educational environments.

How to Submit Public Comments

During the hearing, the OCR will field written comments it receives via email prior to the event as well as those that occur while it’s taking place.

Live Comments

Those who wish to make live comments will have a three-minute limit to do so. They must also register to speak so that their time can be allotted.

Written Comments

Written comments must be sent to T9PublicHearing@ed.gov by 5 p.m. Eastern time on June 11 to be read. They must also include the following in the subject line: “Written Comment: Title IX Public Hearing (topic of the comment).”

OCR Hearing Schedule

The OCR’s public hearing will take place on the following dates and times:

  • June 7 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern time
  • June 8 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern time
  • June 9 - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Eastern time
  • June 10 - 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Eastern time
  • June 11 - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Eastern time

The hearing will be conducted in an audio format, so speakers and attendees will not be visible to anyone else in attendance. Additional formats will be available to ensure accessibility for those who are deaf or hard of hearing. To listen to the hearing as an attendee, click here.