OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS SEATTLE OFFICE. April 22, ND AVE, SUITE 3310, SEATTLE, WA

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1 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS SEATTLE OFFICE April 22, 2011 Re: Aberdeen S.D. No.5 OCR Reference No Arlington S.D. No. 16 OCR Reference No Bellingham S.D. No. 501 OCR Reference No Bremerton S.D. No. 100-C OCR Reference No Castle Rock S.D. No. 401 OCR Reference No Central Valley S.D. No. 356 OCR Reference No !=entralia S.D. No. 401 OCR Reference No Chehalis S.D. No. 302 OCR Reference No Cheney S.D. No. 360 OCR Reference No Clarkston S.D. No. J OCR Reference No Colville S.D. No. 115 OCR Reference No ,. East Valley S.D. No. 361 OCR Reference No ;' Everett S.D. No.2 OCR Reference No Ferndale S.D. No. 502 OCR Reference No Fife S.D. No. 417 OCR Reference No Finley S.D. No. 53 OCR Reference No Grandview S.D. No. 200 OCR Reference 'No Granger S.D. No. 204,,. OCR Reference No.) Granite Falls S.D. No. 332 OCR Reference No Hockinson S.D. No. 98 OCR Reference No Kennewick S.D. No. 17 OCR Reference No Kettle Falls S.D. No. 212 OCR Reference No Kittitas S.D. No. 403 OCR Reference No,J Lakewood S.D. No. 306,. ' OCR Reference No '\': 915 2ND AVE, SUITE 3310, SEATTLE, WA The Department of Education's mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

2 Page 2 - OCR Reference Nos to Longview S.D. No. 122 OCR Reference No Lynden S.D. No. 504 OCR Reference No Mabton S.D. No. 120 OCR Reference No Marysville S.D. No. 25 OCR Reference No Mead S.D. No. 354 OCR Reference No Medical Lake S.D. No. 326 OCR Reference No Meridian S.D. No. 505 OCR Reference No Montesano S.D. No. 66 OCR Reference No Mount Baker S.D. No. 507 OCR Reference No Nine Mile Falls S.D. No. 325 OCR Reference No Nooksack Valley S.D. No. 506 OCR Reference No North Mason S.D. No. 403 OCR Reference No Oak Harbor S.D. No. 201 OCR Reference No Olympia S.D. No. 111 OCR Reference No Othello S.D. No OCR Reference No Port Angeles S.D. No. 121 OCR Reference No Prosser S.D. No. 116 OCR Reference No Pullman S.D. No. 267 OCR Reference No Quillayute Valley S.D. No. 402 OCR Reference No Quincy S.D. No OCR Reference No Richland S.D. No. 400 OCR Reference No Riverside S.D. No. 416 OCR Reference No Sequim S.D. No. 323 OCR Reference No Shelton S.D. No. 309 OCR Reference No Snohomish S.D. No. 201 OCR Reference No South Whidbey S.D. No. 206 OCR Reference No Stanwood-Camano S.D. No. 401 OCR Reference No Sunnyside S.D. No. 201 OCR Reference No Toledo S.D. No. 237 OCR Reference No Tonasket S.D. No. 404 OCR Reference No

3 Page 3 - OCR Reference Nos to Tumwater S.D. No. 33 OCR Reference No Washougal S.D. No OCR Reference No West Valley S.D. No. 363 OCR Reference No West Valley S.D. No. 208 OCR Reference No Edmonds S.D. No. 15 OCR Reference No Highline S.D. No. 401 OCR Reference No Vancouver S.D. No. 37 OCR Reference No Burlington-Edison S.D. No. 100 OCR Reference No Yeim Community Schools No.2 OCR Reference No This is to notify you that the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), has completed its review of your complaints against the school districts identified above. In the complaints, you alleged that the above-named school districts are discriminating against female high school students on the basis of sex by not providing equal opportunities for them to play sports. OCR is responsible for enforcing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972,20 V.S.C (Title IX), and its implementing regulation, 34 C.F.R. Part 106. Title IX prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in programs and activities operated by recipients of federal financial assistance. OCR is currently conducting a compliance review of the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (WA OSPI) under Title IX (OCR Case No ). The review will examine the methods and procedures that WA OSPI uses to evaluate the reports on interscholastic athletics programs that each school district in the state is required to submit to OSPI annually. In particular, it will investigate how WA OSPI ensures the accuracy of the reports on interscholastic athletic programs submitted by the districts. It will further examine how WA OSPI addresses reports indicating that districts are not in compliance with Title IX in order to determine whether WA OSPI is aiding or perpetuating discrimination by providing significant assistance to districts that do not comply with Title IX. OCR has received more than 125 complaints since November of alleging that school districts throughout the state of Washington are violating Title IX by failing to provide female students equal opportunities to participate in interscholastic athletics compared with opportunities that are provided to male students. Considering the number and scope of similar allegations, OCR has determined that a compliance review of the state education agency is appropriate.

4 Page 4 - OCR Reference Nos to Under OCR's procedures, OCR may close a complaint that raises allegations that are being addressed in a compliance review. Since OCR is conducting a statewide compliance review that will address the allegation raised in your complaints against the above districts, OCR is closing the complaints against these districts as of the date of this letter. OCR appreciates the information you have brought to our attention. OCR's goal in initiating this review is to ensure compliance with Title IX in the most efficient and effective manner possible. If you have any questions about this letter or OCR's compliance review, please contact Timothy Sell, attorney, at (206) or by at timothy.sell@ed.gov. G ry D.lfac son D rector' S attle Of e

5 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS SEATILE OFFICE. April 22, 2011 Re: Anacortes S.D. No. 103 OCR Reference No Blaine S.D. No. 503 OCR Reference No Cashmere S.D. No. 222 OCR Reference No Central Kitsap S.D. No. 401 OCR Reference No Chewelah S.D. No. 36 OCR Reference No Columbia S.D. No. 400 OCR Reference No Deer Park S.D. No. 414 OCR Reference No Edmonds S.D. No. 15 OCR Reference No Elma S.D. No. 68 OCR Reference No Highland S.D. No. 203 OCR Reference No Highline S.D. No OCR Reference No Kiona-Benton City S.D. No. 52 OCR Reference No La Conner S.D. No. 311 OCR Reference No Lake Stevens S.D. No.4 OCR Reference No Moses Lake S.D. No. 161 OCR Reference No Mount Vernon S.D. No. 320 OCR Reference No Mukilteo S.D. No.6 OCR Reference No North Kitsap S.D. No.AOO OCR Reference No Pasco S.D. No.1 OCR Reference No Pt. Townsend S.D. No. 50 OCR Reference No Reardon-Edwall S.D. No.9 OCR Reference No Ridgefield S.D. No. 122 OCR Reference No Rochester S.D. No. 401 OCR Reference No Royal S.D. No. 160 OCR Reference No SECOND AVE., ROOM 3310, SEATTLE, WA Tile Department or Education's mission is to promote student achievement andprcperution for globsl competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access.

6 Page 2 - OCR Reference Nos to Snoqualmie Valley S.D. No. 401 OCR Reference No Sultan S.D. No. 311 OCR Reference No Toppenish S.D. No. 202 OCR Reference No Vancouver S.D. No. 37 OCR Reference No Vashon Island S.D. No. 402 OCR Reference No Walla Walla S.D. No. 140 OCR Reference No Wenatchee S.D. No. 246 OCR Reference No Winlock S.D. No. 232 OCR Reference No Woodland S.D. No. 404 OCR Reference No. ] Zillah S.D. No. 205 OCR Reference No Wahluke S.D. No. 73 OCR Reference No This is to notify you that the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR), will not proceed further with the complaints identified above. In the complaints, you alleged that the above-named school districts are discriminating against female students on the basis of sex by not providing equal opportunities for female high school students to play sports. OCR has determined that a statewide activity on this issue is appropriate. OCR has initiated a compliance review of the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (WA OSPI) under title IX of the Education Amendments of The initiation of a compliance review does not reflect an opinion by OCR regarding WA OSPI's compliance status. OCR will conduct this review to evaluate WA OSPI's compliance with Title IX and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106. The review will examine the methods and procedures that WA OSPI uses to evaluate the reports on interscholastic athletics programs that each school district in the state is required to submit to OSPI annually. In particular, it will investigate how WA OSPI ensures the accuracy of the reports on interscholastic athletic programs submitted by the districts. It will further examine how WA OSPI addresses reports indicating that districts are not in compliance with Title IX in order to determine whether WA OSPI is aiding or perpetuating discrimination by providing significant assistance to districts that do not comply with Title IX.

7 Page 3 - OCR Reference Nos to OCR has received more than 125 complaints since November of2010 alleging that school districts throughout the state of Washington are violating Title IX by failing to provide female students equal opportunities to participate in interscholastic athletics compared with opportunities that are provided to male students. Considering the number and scope of similar allegations, OCR has determined that a compliance review of the state education agency is appropriate. Under OCR's procedures, OCR may close a complaint that raises allegations that are being addressed in a compliance review. Since OCR is conducting a statewide compliance review that will address the allegation raised in your complaints against the above districts, OCR is closing the complaints against these districts as of the date of this letter. OCR appreciates the information you have brought to our attention. OCR's goal in initiating this review is to ensure compliance with Title IX in the most efficient and effective manner possible. If you have any questions about this letter or OCR's compliance review, please contact Timothy Sell, attorney, by telephone at (206) or by at timothy.sell@ed.gov.