The co-chairs of the U.S. Secretary of Education's Commission on Opportunity in Athletics today said they are proud of the commission's work and praised the commissioners for their commitment to Title IX and athletics.

Commission co-chairs Ted Leland and Cynthia Cooper also announced that the commission's end date is being extended for several weeks in order to give commissioners more time to review the issues, and that the commission's next meeting, scheduled for Jan. 8 in Washington, D.C., will be moved to a later date to reflect this change.

"I am honored to be part of this important commission, and believe our work and the process have been exemplary," said co-chair Ted Leland, athletic director of Stanford University. "We've engaged in a thorough and deliberative process and heard from individuals with a variety of viewpoints. We still have work to do to achieve the requirements of the charter, and I look forward to completing our work on behalf of Secretary Paige.

"That said, Cynthia Cooper and I believe that given the serious nature of the issues, and the volume of comments and information received during these past few months, that it is to everyone's benefit to extend the end date of the commission's work by about one month. This will give the commissioners more time to do the serious review warranted and produce a report that reflects the quality of the commissioners who serve on this commission."

"I am proud that I have been a part of this commission, and fully support the decision to extend the due date of our report to Secretary Paige" said co-chair Cynthia Cooper, former WNBA star and head coach. "For months, we have been working diligently to gather information about Title IX and its enforcement. We made sure all of the commissioners had input in the process. We've heard from dozens of expert witnesses—many of whom were suggested by members of the commission and the public—and hundreds of people with varied perspectives."

U.S. Education Secretary Rod Paige in June formed the blue-ribbon panel of sports professionals and Title IX practitioners, including athletic directors, a university general counsel and a university president, to examine ways to strengthen Title IX enforcement and expand opportunities in a manner that ensures fairness for all athletes.

Since August, the commissioners have held public meetings across the country to learn from parents, athletes, coaches, college officials, educators and other experts, as well as state, local and national leaders, to gather information and prepare recommendations to submit to Secretary Paige.

President Richard Nixon signed into law Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 to the 1964 Civil Rights Act that says: "No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

More information about the Title IX Commission can be found at http://www.ed.gov/about/bdscomm/list/athletics/index.html.

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