FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 31st, 2025
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION RESCINDS BIDEN'S TITLE IX RULES
HELENA, MT –Today, the U.S. Department of Education announced they are rescinding the controversial changes to Title IX put in place under the Biden administration.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Susie Hedalen issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Education’s decision to return to enforcing the 2020 Title IX Rules and Montana’s continued efforts to protect fairness and privacy in education through House Bill 300:
"Title IX was designed to guarantee fairness and equal opportunity for women in educational settings, and today’s decision reinforces those protections," said Superintendent Hedalen. "Montanans expect and deserve to see female educational and athletic programs honored, and their dedication and hard work respected. Today, as this announcement from the federal government came through, I was testifying in support of House Bill 300 which strengthens these same principles at the state level, ensuring that young women in Montana are not forced to compete against biological males nor have their privacy and access to programs violated, while also giving them clear legal recourse if their rights are violated."
Under the restored 2020 Title IX Rules, schools are required to protect the integrity of women’s sports and ensure due process in Title IX proceedings. House Bill 300 aligns with these principles by making it unlawful for educational institutions to allow biological males to compete in female sports and by protecting access to facilities designated for women and girls.
"Our state has always been a leader in protecting the integrity of women’s sports, and we will continue to work with schools to uphold these protections," added Hedalen. "Montana will stand firm in ensuring that fairness, safety, and equal opportunity remain at the heart of education and athletics."
For more information, please contact the Montana Office of Public Instruction
###
Questions? Contact:
McKenna Gregg, Communications Director
The OPI is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation, require an alternate format, or have questions concerning accessibility, contact the OPI ADA Coordinator, 406-444-3161, opiada@mt.gov, Relay Service: 711.
|
