A federal law called Title IX prohibits anyone at your school from discriminating against you on the basis of your gender. Boys and girls must be treated the same in all areas, including:

the classes they can take the way they are treated in the classroom the kind of counseling they are given

the extracurricular activities in which they can participate the honors, special awards, scholarships, and graduation activities in which they can participate

In addition, Title IX protects you from sexual harassment. This means that no student, teacher, administrator or other school employee can make unwelcome sexual advances to you or request sexual favors from you. They cannot touch you or speak to you in a sexual manner at school or at a school-sponsored event.

If you find that any of your rights under Title IX are being violated, you can do something about it. It's your right!

Informal Resolution Process

If you have a complaint about your rights, you can try the following information steps to try to correct the situation that is causing your concern:

1. Make notes ... keep a record ... of the persons, dates, and examples of the kinds of things said or done to you which you object.
2. Seek support and advice from your Title IX "complaint manager" (designated at secondary schools), counselor, teacher, nurse, or someone in authority with whom you feel comfortable enough to tell your concerns.
3. Consider your options in dealing with the situation. For example, you may want to talk to the person who is infringing on your rights. Or you may want to write a letter to the offending person to explain what affect his or her behavior has on you and what you would like the person to stop doing or saying. Or you may want to ask a third party to help clear up the situation for you.
4. Don't forget your family. You may think you can resolve your problem on your own, but remember your mother or father or guardian may be able to step in and help you.
5. If you find that your situation cannot be resolved by using any of the above informal methods, you may want to use the Title IX complaint procedure as your next step. This procedure is designed to help you. No one is permitted to intimidate you or harass you for asking to use this procedure.

Formal Resolution Process

The Los Angeles Unified School District has a formal complaint procedure under Title IX that involves these steps:

First Step

You have six months from the time the incident of your complaint occurred to submit a written complaint to your school principal. The principal will try to resolve your complaint, by conducting an impartial investigation. The principal will provide you with a written decision regarding your complaint. If there is evidence that you have a valid complaint, the principal will need to try to correct the situation. If the action taken resolves your complaint, the matter will be considered closed.

Second Step

If you are dissatisfied with the principal's decision, you may appeal by writing to the District Title IX Coordinator. This written appeal must be sent to the address below within 15 days of receiving the principal's decision.

The District Title IX Coordinator will review the matter, and, if necessary arrange to meet with you and with any other persons who might help resolve your complaint. After that, the District Title IX Coordinator will provide you with a written decision and the reasons for coming to that decision. This decision will be final.