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For Immediate Release
June 9, 2010
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Committee Approves White's Equity in Interscholastic
Athletics Disclosure
Will help students, parents measure opportunities for
female athletes.
Harrisburg – Legislation sponsored by state Sen. Mary Jo White (R-21) to help
ensure that female students are offered equal athletic opportunities compared to
their male counterparts was approved by the Senate Education Committee.
Senate Bill 890 requires any public or private school entity that provides
interscholastic athletic opportunities for students in grades 7 through 12 to
submit annual reports to the state Department of Education demonstrating that
they have met the requirements of Title IX, the federal statute mandating equal
education opportunities for students. The report would be made available to the
public and posted online.
"Current disclosure requirements cover only colleges and universities. Senate
Bill 890 would allow students and parents in middle and high schools to
determine if their schools are treating girls and boys equally when it comes to
athletics," said White. "This is important information, as studies show that
young women who participate in high school athletics are more likely to stay in
school, to have higher grades, and to graduate."
Under Senate Bill 890, the interscholastic athletics report would include the
following information:
- The total number of students by gender in each secondary school.
- A listing of each athletic team that competed in interscholastic
athletic competition and the total number of participants broken down by gender.
- The total expenditures for each team in the school year.
- Separate expenditures such as travel, uniforms, equipment,
compensation of coaches and trainers, etc.
- Total number of trainers and coaches per team.
- Total number of games played per team.
Rep. Tim Briggs (D-149) has introduced similar legislation in the House of
Representatives, House Bill 2061.
University of Pennsylvania research indicates that changes following
implementation of Title IX in 1972 contributed to an increase in women's
education and a rise in employment for 25-to-34-year-old women. A University of
Illinois at Chicago study found that the increase in girls' athletic
participation due to Title IX was associated with a 7 percent lower risk of
obesity 20 to 25 years later, when women were in their late 30s and early 40s.
The senator noted that a recent audit of Pittsburgh Public Schools found that
the school district is not providing equitable athletic opportunities to girls
at its high schools.
"The benefits of interscholastic athletics, for young men and women alike,
are widely known. What is less well known is whether schools are providing equal
opportunity to participate," said White. "Collecting this information will aid
not only students and parents, but school administrators themselves who may not
be aware of the degree of disparity."
CONTACT:Leigh Ramsey
717) 787-9684
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