SACRAMENTO – Gov. Jerry Brown has signed a bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to ensure that students and schools are aware of their rights and responsibilities under Title IX, the landmark federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in education.
Senate Bill 1375 will require that all schools that receive federal funding post the name and contact information of their Title IX coordinator on their website, outline students’ rights and schools’ responsibilities under Title IX, and provide information about how to file a complaint under Title IX.
“I’m very pleased that the Governor has signed this bill into law. More than four decades after the passage of this landmark law, we have made great strides in opening up sports and other educational opportunities to young women in our schools, “ said Jackson, who is chair of the California Legislative Women’s Caucus. “We’ve seen the fruits of Title IX with the recent success of so many American women at the Rio Olympics. But in a hearing I held last year, we discovered there is still work for us to do. This bill will help ensure that schools are fulfilling their responsibilities and the public is fully informed of their rights under this landmark law.”
Passed by Congress in 1972, Title IX is a comprehensive federal law that prohibits gender discrimination in any federally funded education program or activity.
In a hearing that Jackson chaired last year entitled “Attaining Equal Opportunity for Girls in California’s Secondary Schools: How Our Schools are Complying with Title IX,” it was discovered that many school districts are often unaware that they are required to appoint a Title IX coordinator at the district and school level; inform students, parents and staff of their rights under Title IX; and adopt rules on how to respond to Title IX complaints.
Bill teaching healthy relationships skills in school also signed this week
Brown also signed this week a bill authored by Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to include communication skills and the need to treat each other with kindness and respect as a regular part of the elementary and middle school health curriculum.
Part of a long-standing effort by Jackson to prevent sexual assault,Senate Bill 1435 will stipulate that the next revision of the health framework for kindergarteners through eighth graders in California’s public schools include age and developmentally appropriate information on resolving disagreements, treating each other with respect, and responding to bullying or harassment.
“While this kind of teaching is already included in some of the older grade levels, this bill will ensure it can become a comprehensive part of all of our elementary and middle school grade levels in an age appropriate way,” said Jackson. “The ultimate goal is to build the foundation for positive relationship skills in our youngest students, and help prevent violence, bullying, sexual harassment and sexual assault long before it occurs.”
Examples of classroom lessons could include first graders drawing a family portrait and discussing how every family is unique and deserves respect. Second graders may learn about treating all members of their community with kindness. Middle schools might learn strategies to address bullying and how to build respectful relationships with their peers.
SB 1435 is part of Jackson’s efforts to prevent and address sexual assault and harassment.
In 2014, she jointly authored Senate Bill 967 with Senator Kevin de León, California’s landmark ‘yes means yes’ law. It made California the first state in the nation to define affirmative consent and require institutes of higher education to educate students about consent and sexual assault. The bill required increased training for the faculty reviewing complaints so that survivors of assault are not re-victimized by inappropriate questions when they seek justice. The bill also required access to counseling and health service resources when assaults occur.
In 2015, she jointly authored Senate Bill 695, also with Senator Kevin de León, which required public high school health classes to provide students instruction on affirmative consent, sexual harassment, assault, violence, and the importance of developing positive and healthy relationships.
Jackson also authored Senate Bill 186 to allow community college districts to extend their jurisdictions beyond their campus borders and use their existing disciplinary process to discipline, expel or suspend students for off-campus sexual assault and sexual exploitation.
Research shows that, on average, one out of every five high school students, boys and girls, have been the victim of physical abuse, sexual abuse, or threatened with physical violence. One in four teenage girls and one in 10 teenage boys have experienced dating violence.
Jackson represents the 19th Senate District, which includes all of Santa Barbara and western Ventura County.
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