Title IX law is in constant flux, with new rules and legal challenges continuing to shape how schools, colleges, and other institutions handle sex-based misconduct and discrimination. Our firm closely monitors these developments and is committed to providing the most current information available. Click here to learn about the current state of Title IX and how we can help if you are facing accusations or other Title IX issues.
Under the Title IX Final Rule, a formal complaint is defined as a document filed by the complainant via the alleged victim, him or herself or a third party, all signed by the Title IX coordinator, which alleges sexual harassment against a responded and request that an investigation into the sexual harassment take place.
If you’re facing a Title IX concern or sexual misconduct case, having an experienced attorney advisor can help you navigate the process and can help you work towards trying to ensure a fair process and a favorable outcome. They should be involved as early as possible in the case.
New Title IX Rules / Title IX Final Rule FAQs
- Are K-12 schools required to have a live hearing under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Are live hearing with cross examination required of K-12 schools under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Are live hearing with cross examination required of colleges or universities under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a college or university address sexual harassment and sexual misconduct affecting its employees that falls outside of Title IXs jurisdiction?
- Can a college or university address sexual harassment and sexual misconduct affecting its students that falls outside of Title IXs jurisdiction?
- Can a college or university address sexual harassment or sexual misconduct allegations if the allegations do not fall under Title IX?
- Can a college or university change a respondent's class schedule as an interim measure under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a college or university consolidate formal complaints under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a college or university dismiss a formal complaint under the Title IX Final Rule if the complainant seeks to withdraw the complaint?
- Can a college or university dismiss a formal complaint under the Title IX FInal Rule if the respondent is no longer employed at the school?
- Can a college or university dismiss a formal complaint under the Title IX Final Rule if the respondent is no longer enrolled at the school?
- Can a college or university impose an interim suspension on a respondent under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a college or university remove a respondent from housing as an interim measure under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a college or university restrict a complainant, or respondent, from discussing the allegations or gathering evidence?
- Can a college or university restrict constitutional rights under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a college or university suspend a student athlete as an interim measure under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a college or university use information that is legally protected in a Title IX case under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a complainant decide not to pursue a Title IX investigation under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a complainant, or respondent, select an advisor of their choice including an attorney?
- Can a live hearing take place virtually under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a live hearing take place with the parties in separate settings under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a party appear at a live hearing virtually under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a respondent use a complainant's mental health issues as evidence in a Title IX case?
- Can a school allow an informal resolution to a school employee who sexually harassed a student under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a school charge a student for code of conduct violations that do not involve sexual harassment, but arise out of the same facts or circumstnaces involving sexual harassment under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a Title IX case be appealed under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a Title IX coordinator sign a formal complaint under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Do the rules in a Title IX case apply to both the complainant and the respondent under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Does a college or university need to follow a grievance procedure that considers the respondent under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Does the Title IX Final Rule apply off-campus?
- Does the Title IX Final Rule consider the first ammendment with regards to sexual harassment?
- Does the Title IX Final Rule only apply on campus?
- How are quid pro quo, harassment, and Clery Act / Violence Against Women Act offenses evaluated under the Title IX Final Rule?
- How are retaliation charges handled by a school under the Title IX Final Rule?
- How can a Title IX complaint be reported under the Title IX Final Rule?
- How do appeals work under the Title IX Final Rule?
- How does a college or university determine remedies under the Title IX Final Rule?
- How does cross examination work at a K-12 school?
- How does the Supreme Court's Davis definition of sexual harassment apply to the Title IX Final Rule in cases involving speech or expressive conduct?
- How does the Title IX Final Rule define a school's "program or activity"?
- How does the Title IX Final Rule define sexual harassment?
- How does the Title IX Final Rule define supportive measures?
- How does the Title IX Final Rule evaluate a school's disciplinary decision?
- How does the Title IX Final Rule evaluate supportive measures and remedies under the Title IX Final Rule?
- How must a school respond to a Title IX complaint under the Title IX Final Rule?
- How will cross examination take place at a live hearing under the Title IX Final Rule?
- If a college or university dismisses a case under Title IX, can a college or university address the allegations in a different manner?
- Is a college or university required to investigate the allegations in a formal complaint under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Is a college or university required to list the remedies that may be imposed under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Is a college or university required to treat a complainant equitably under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Is a college or university required to treat a respondent equitably under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Is a college's or university's training material required to be disclosed under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Is a respondent presumed not responsible for the alleged conduct under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Is an informal resolution allowed by a school under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Is it considered retaliation if a student makes a materially false statement during the course of a Title IX grievance proceeding, and is charged by the school?
- What are a college's or university's grievance process requirements in evaluating evidence under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What are a college's or university's requirements in evaluating evidence under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What are the college's or university's requirements regarding Title IX personnel under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What are a school's requirements regarding issuing a written determination under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What are a school's requirements regarding the grievance process standard of proof used under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What are Clery Act offenses under Title IX Final Rule?
- What are Violence Against Women Act offenses under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What does a college or university's Title IX coordinator do under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What happens if a party does not submit to cross examination at a live hearing under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What happens if the Title IX allegations did not occur in the school's education program or activity against a person in the United States?
- What happens if the TItle IX allegations do not meet the Title IX Final Rule definition of sexual harassment?
- What is a college or university required to do if the allegations do not meet the Title IX Final Rule's definition of sexual harassment?
- What is a college or university required to do under the Title IX Final Rule if the allegations did not occur in a school's education program or activity?
- What is an informal resolution under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What is considered a formal complaint under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What is considered retaliation under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What is the investigative report under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What is the time frame for a Title IX case under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What is the Title IX Final Rule's rape shield protection?
- What kinds of cross examination questions are allowed in a live hearing under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What must a college or university do with regards to the complainant when a Title IX complaint is filed under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What notice is required of a college or university under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What obligations does a school have with regards to its Title IX coordinator?
- What requirements does a school have regarding confidentiality under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What requirements need to be met when a complainant files a formal complaint under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What standard of proof is a college or uniersity required to use under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What takes place at a live hearing at a college or university under the Title IX Final Rule?
- What training is required of Title IX personnel under the Title IX Final Rule?
- When is a college or university or post-secondary institution required to respond to the Title IX Final Rule?
- When is a college or university required to investigate sexual harassment or sexual misconduct under the Title IX Final Rule?
- When is a K-12 school required to respond to the Title IX Final Rule?
- When is a school's response obligation triggered under the Title IX Final Rule?
- When responding to sexual harassment, what are a college's or university's obligations under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Where does Title IX apply?
- Who can report a Title IX complaint under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Who is a complainant under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Who is a respondent under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Who is responsible for gathering evidence in a Title IX case under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Who is responsible for the burden of proof in a Title IX casee under the Title IX Final Rule?
- Can a college or university allow a party's medical, psychological, or other reports in a Title IX case?
Tell About Your Case
When Academic Discipline Turns Into Litigation
A recent Idaho case shows how academic disputes can escalate when fairness is in question, particularly where allegations of racial discrimination are raised under federal civil rights law. According to the Idaho Capital Sun, a jury awarded $160,000 to a doctoral pharmacy student who alleged racial discrimination after being removed from […]
When the SRO (School Resource Officer) is Involved: Why “Educational Discipline” Just Became “Legal Defense”
In the name of student safety, schools are installing School Resource Officers (SROs) on campus. But SROs’ involvement in campus problems also means that incidents at school can now turn directly into criminal investigations. What parents need to know is this: If your child faces discipline because of an incident […]
Can Schools Punish Students for Social Media Posts? The Mahanoy Standard
A frustrated high school cheerleader walks into a convenience store on a Saturday afternoon. She snaps a photo with a friend, raises her middle finger, and posts a profanity-filled message to Snapchat complaining about school and cheerleading. By Monday, she’s suspended from the cheer squad. Most students would assume that’s […]
State > District > School: How Inconsistent Policies Become a Defense in Student Misconduct
The state is greater than the district, while the district is greater than the school. That probably seems like a weird SAT math problem. However, it describes the legal concept of “preemption,” when a higher authority’s law prevents lower authorities from acting inconsistently with the senior law. And preemption can […]