Equal Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimination for Girls in Advanced Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education: Federal Enforcement of Title IX
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 449 580 EA 030 868 AUTHOR Aneckstein, Laura; Baird, Andrea; Butler, Margaret; Chambers, David; Johnson, Wanda; Kraus, Rebecca; Mann, Eric; Trost, Tami; Zalokar, Nadja; Zieseniss, Mireille TITLE Equal Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimination for Girls in Advanced Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education: Federal Enforcement of Title IX. Equal Educational Opportunity Project Series, Volume V. INSTITUTION Commission on Civil Rights, Washington, DC. PUB DATE 2000-07-00 NOTE 175p.; With contributions by Valerie Blanks, Monique Cueto, Asha Gibson, Elena Grigera, Renee Enochs, LaTasha Greer, Jeanette Johnson, and Catherine Kim. Fifth report in the Equal Educational Opportunity Project Series. Prepared under the direction and supervision of Frederick D. Isler. PUB TYPE Reports Evaluative (142) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC07 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Disability Discrimination; Elementary Secondary Education; Emotional Problems; *Equal Education; Government Publications; Limited English Speaking; Mathematics; *Minority Groups; Public Schools; Sciences; *Sex Bias; *Social Discrimination ABSTRACT This report focuses on the Office for Civil Rights' (OCR's) activities relating to Title IX and advanced mathematics, science, and technology education for girls. It examines some of the barriers and inequities that undermine girls' opportunities to choose college majors and enter careers in the advanced mathematics, science, and technology fields, thus preventing them from having an equal opportunity to participate in advanced mathematics and science education programs, to maximize their learning potential, and to enhance their educational and career opportunities overall. The report also acknowledges gender differences placing boys at a disadvantage (for example, boys' underachievement in reading). The report evaluates and analyzes OCR's implementation, compliance, and enforcement efforts under Title IX. It discusses other federal laws affecting advanced mathematics and science education to the extent they relate to Title IX and advanced mathematics, science, and technology education. The report provides findings and recommendation regarding OCR's Title IX implementation, compliance, and enforcement efforts to assist the Department of Education and OCR in improving and strengthening the Title IX program. (Contains tables and figures.) (DFR) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. 0 6 SCOPE OF INTEREST NOTICE The ERIC Facility has assigned this document for processing to: In our judgment, this document is also of interest to the Clear- inghouses noted to the right. Indexing should reflect their special points of view. a 0lidoa cud , TOO M ':AU a a A 0 I 1 1 1 U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) OD, leThis document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it 0 Minor changes have been made to O to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent BEST COPY AVAILABLE official OERI position or policy 44 U.S. Commission on Civil Rights The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is an independent, bipartisan agency first established by Congress in 1957 and reestablished in 1983. It is directed to: Investigate complaints alleging that citizens are being deprived of their right to vote by reason of their race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or by reason of fraudulent practices. Study and collect information relating to discrimination or a denial of equal protection of the laws under the Constitution because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice. Appraise Federal laws and policies with respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin, or in the administration of justice. Serve as a national clearinghouse for information in respect to discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws because of race, color, religion, sex, age, disability, or national origin. Submit reports, findings, and recommendations to the President and Congress. Issue public service announcements to discourage discrimination or denial of equal protection of the laws. Members of the Commission Mary Frances Berry, Chairperson Cruz Reynoso, Vice Chairperson Carl A. Anderson Christopher F. Edley, Jr. Yvonne Y. Lee Elsie M. Meeks Russell G. Redenbaugh Victoria Wilson Ruby G. Moy, Staff Director This report is available on diskette in ASCII and WordPerfect 5.1 for persons with visual impairments. Please call (202) 376-8110. 3 SCOPE OF INTEREST NOTICE The ERIC Facility has assigned this document for processing to: EA In our judgment, this document is also of interest to the Clear- inghouses noted to the right. Indexing should reflect their special points of view. Equal Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimination for Girls in Advanced Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education: Federal Enforcement of Title IX Equal Educational Opportunity Project Series Volume V July 2000 A Report of the United States Commissionon Civil Rights 4 Letter of Transmittal The President The President of the Senate The Speaker of the House of Representatives Sirs: The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights transmits this report, Equal Educational Opportu- nity and Nondiscrimination for Girls in Advanced Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education: Federal Enforcement of Title IX, pursuant to P.L. 103-419. Thisreport is the re- sult of the Commission's longstanding commitment to ensuring that the nation'spublic schools are free of discrimination and that all children in this countryare afforded equal edu- cational opportunity. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the efforts of the U.S. Depart- ment of Education (DOEd) and its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to enforce Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. The first report of the Equal Educational Opportunity Project Series evaluated andana- lyzed OCR's history, performance, regulations, policies, and activities, setting thestage for the remaining reports. The second report, Equal Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimi- nation for Students with Disabilities: Federal Enforcement of Section 504, evaluatedand analyzed OCR's Section 504 performance, regulations, policies, and activities specificallyre- lating to the development of individualized educationprograms for and placement of stu- dents with mental retardation, learning disabilities, behavioral disabilities,or serious emo- tional disturbance. The third report, Equal Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimination for Students with Limited English Proficiency: Federal Enforcement of Title VI andLau v. Nichols, evaluated and analyzed OCR's Title VI performance, regulations, policies, andac- tivities relating to the development and implementation of educationalprograms for and placement of national origin minority students identifiedas having limited English profi- ciency. The fourth report, Equal Educational Opportunity and Nondiscrimination for Minor- ity Students: Federal Enforcement of Title VI in Ability Grouping Practices, evaluatedand analyzed OCR's Title VI performance, regulations, policies, and activities relatingto ability grouping and tracking of minority students. With this report, the Commission focuses on OCR's activities relatingto Title IX and ad- vanced mathematics, science, and technology education for girls. It examines, withinthe con- text of educational practices, some of the present-day barriers and inequities that undermine girls' opportunities to choose college majors and entercareers in the advanced mathematics, science, and technology fields. Such practices may prevent girls from havingan equal oppor- tunity to participate in advanced mathematics and science educationprograms, to maximize their learning potential, and to enhance their educational andcareer opportunities overall. While focusing on mathematics and science education, the report also acknowledges gender differences placing boys at a disadvantage, such as boys' underachievement in reading,com- pared with girls. This report evaluates and analyzes OCR's implementation, compliance, and enforcement efforts under Title IX. It discusses other federal laws affecting advanced mathematicsand science education for girls, such as the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974, the Women's Educational Equity Act, and Goals 2000: Educate America Act,to the extent they relate to Title IX and advanced mathematics, science, and technology education for girls. The report provides findings and recommendations regarding OCR's Title IX implementa- tion, compliance, and enforcement efforts in order to assist the Department of Educationand iii 5 its Office for Civil Rights in improving and strengthening OCR's Title IX program and pro- moting nondiscrimination and equal educational opportunity for girls in advanced mathe- matics and science education. The Commission finds that, in general, OCR Title IX enforce- ment has been adequate in addressing the need to ensure nondiscrimination in academic programs. However, the report contains specific recommendations to further strengthen OCR in its efforts to enforce Title IX. Because of persisting stereotypes, which affect career choices, the labor force, and ultimately the competitiveness of the United States as a nation, the Depart- ment of Education,