I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 3828 
To support educational entities in fully implementing title IX and reducing 
and preventing sex discrimination in all areas of education. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 25, 2017 
Ms. SLAUGHTER (for herself, Ms. JUDY CHU of California, and Mr. MCNER-
NEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 
on Education and the Workforce 
A BILL 
To support educational entities in fully implementing title 
IX and reducing and preventing sex discrimination in 
all areas of education. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Patsy T. Mink Gender 
Equity in Education Act of 2017’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
FINDINGS.—Congress finds the following: 
(1) Title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.) (in this Act referred 
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to as ‘‘title IX’’) and the implementing regulations 
of title IX prohibit sex discrimination in federally 
funded education programs and activities. 
(2) Although title IX ensures equal opportuni-
ties to participate in athletics, female participation 
rates, especially for girls of color, lag far behind 
male participation rates. The National Women’s 
Law Center reports that only 64 percent of Black 
girls, 64 percent of Hispanic girls, and 53 percent 
of Asian-American girls play sports, compared to 76 
percent of Caucasian girls. Female student athletes 
have been found to have higher levels of self-esteem 
and to be more likely to graduate from high school 
than female students who do not play sports. Al-
though the availability of athletic scholarships facili-
tates access to higher education, many schools fail to 
award proportional athletic financial aid to females, 
which can affect the long-term employment outcomes 
and economic security of women. 
(3) Although title IX ensures gender equity in 
career and technical education, women are severely 
underrepresented in nontraditional fields. The Amer-
ican Association of University Women reports that 
females make up more than 70 percent of students 
enrolled in classes that prepare students for low-pay-
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behaviors, and to have more unexcused absences 
from school. 
(7) Although title IX guarantees access to med-
ical leave, the availability of accommodations for 
pregnancy-related conditions, and the availability of 
enrollment in school-related activities for pregnant 
and parenting students, numerous studies have 
found that pregnancy and parenting are the leading 
reasons that females drop out of high school. A 
2012 report from the National Women’s Law Center 
shows that only 51 percent of teenage mothers earn 
a high school diploma by the age of 22, compared 
with 89 percent of women who do not have a child 
during their teenage years, limiting continuing op-
portunities for education and employment. 
(8) Although title IX protects against discrimi-
nation based on stereotypes of actual or perceived 
sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation, 
many people carry implicit or unconscious biases 
that can unintentionally influence attitudes, beliefs, 
behaviors, and decisionmaking processes. Research 
has shown that unconscious biases can impact class-
room environments, teaching methods, student eval-
uations, disciplinary practices, and career and coun-
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seling guidance, particularly for students who are 
pursuing nontraditional fields. 
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ESEA DEFINITIONS.—The terms ‘‘elemen-
tary school’’, ‘‘institution of higher education’’, 
‘‘local educational agency’’, ‘‘secondary school’’, and 
‘‘State educational agency’’ have the meanings given 
those terms in section 8101 of the Elementary and 
Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 
(2) COMPOUND
DISCRIMINATION.—The term 
‘‘compound discrimination’’ means discrimination 
based on sex, and one or more other characteristic, 
including race, ethnicity, national origin, disability 
status, religion, or age. 
(3) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the Officer for Gender Equity estab-
lished under section 5(a). 
(4) EDUCATIONAL
ENTITY.—The term ‘‘edu-
cational entity’’ means any of the following entities 
that receive Federal funds: 
(A) A State educational agency. 
(B) A local educational agency. 
(C) An institution of higher education. 
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(D) An elementary school or secondary 
school. 
(5) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of Education. 
(6) SEX DISCRIMINATION.—The term ‘‘sex dis-
crimination’’ means bias, discrimination, harass-
ment, or violence based on: 
(A) Actual or perceived sex, sexual orienta-
tion, gender, or gender identity. 
(B) Pregnancy, childbirth, or a related 
medical condition. 
(C) A stereotype associated with any char-
acteristic described in subparagraph (A) or (B). 
(7) TITLE IX COORDINATOR.—The term ‘‘title 
IX coordinator’’ means a responsible employee, as 
described in section 106.8(a) of title 34, Code of 
Federal Regulations, designated to coordinate efforts 
under title IX of the Education Amendments of 
1972 (20 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.). 
SEC. 4. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this Act are to— 
(1) promote gender equity in education in the 
United States; 
(2) support educational entities so that such en-
tities have the support to fully implement title IX; 
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(3) provide title IX coordinators with training, 
technical assistance, and support to fully carry out 
their roles and responsibilities; 
(4) increase general awareness about the rights 
and obligations of individuals and entities under title 
IX; 
(5) identify, implement, and disseminate best 
practices for reducing and preventing sex discrimina-
tion in all areas of education; 
(6) promote educational environments that are 
safe and free of sexual and sex-based bullying, har-
assment, and violence; and 
(7) promote equity in education for students 
who face compound discrimination. 
SEC. 5. ESTABLISHMENT OF AN OFFICE FOR GENDER EQ-
UITY. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish an 
Office for Gender Equity. The Director of the Office for 
Gender Equity shall be the Special Assistant for Gender 
Equity, as authorized under section 202(b)(3) of the De-
partment of Education Organization Act (20 U.S.C. 
3412(b)(3)). The Director of the Office for Gender Equity 
shall report directly to the Secretary. 
(b) DUTIES.—The Office for Gender Equity shall be 
responsible for the following: 
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(1) Supporting educational entities in the full 
implementation of title IX. 
(2) Providing title IX coordinators with train-
ing, technical assistance, and support to fully carry 
out their roles and responsibilities. 
(3) Providing grants to implement programs 
and activities that are focused on reducing and pre-
venting sex discrimination in all areas of education. 
(4) Identifying and disseminating best practices 
for reducing and preventing sex discrimination in all 
areas of education. 
(5) Maintaining an Office of Gender Equity re-
source center website to disseminate best practices 
in achieving gender equity. 
(6) Performing any other activity consistent 
with achieving the purposes of this Act. 
(c) COORDINATION.—To carry out the purposes of 
this Act, the Secretary shall coordinate with other relevant 
Federal offices and agencies, including— 
(1) the Office for Civil Rights of the Depart-
ment of Education; 
(2) the Institute of Education Sciences; 
(3) the White House Council on Women and 
Girls; 
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