Last Friday, the federal government issued an announcement introducing the “Title IX Special Investigations Team” (SIT). The announcement indicated that SIT will be a joint effort of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) and Department of Justice (DOJ) and will consist of attorneys and investigators from both agencies. The announcement follows major changes at DOE and an executive order from the president directing the Secretary of Education “to take all necessary steps to facilitate the closure of the Department of Education,” which was discussed in last week’s Legal Ledger.
The announcement notes a “staggering volume of Title IX complaints” and indicates that a major purpose of SIT is to “ensure timely, consistent resolutions to protect students, and especially female athletes, from the pernicious effects of gender ideology in school programs and activities.” The agencies also indicate that a key purpose of SIT is to facilitate “more rapid and consistent investigations” than those conducted in the past by the Office for Civil Rights.
It is unclear from the announcement whether the SIT will investigate Title IX complaints or other complaints that do not implicate those topics specifically mentioned in the announcement. Districts should continue to work with legal counsel to ensure compliance with all federal civil rights laws and in response to any complaint or investigation. OSBA members who have general questions are welcome to contact the legal hotline at 855-OSBA-LAW.