For Immediate Release:

Wednesday, March 3, 2004

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Department of Education today announced plans to weaken the enforcement of long-standing Title IX anti-discrimination protections. The current law allows school districts to create single-sex schools or classes in appropriate circumstances, but contains protections against sex discrimination. Today’s move by the Administration would weaken such provisions.

Senator Murray, a staunch advocate for Title IX protections, released the following statement.

“Today’s actions by the Administration threaten to create a ‘separate but less than equal’ approach to education. This misguided policy has the potential to set back the progress we have made in education for girls by nearly three decades. I urge the Administration to do the right thing and move educational opportunities for girls in this country forward, not back.”