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Challenging Sex Discrimination
by Educational Institutions
Women's Law Project Opposes Single-Sex Boys' Charter School
The Women's Law Project along with the Education Law Center, the Public Interest
Law Center of Philadelphia, and the American Civil Liverties Union of Pennsylvania
have issued a joint communication
to the Philadelphia School Reform Commission on January 11, 2006, in opposition
to the Southwest Philadelphia Academy for Boys Charter Application. Approval
of a single-sex charter school violates Pennsylvania Charter School Law and a
single-sex charter school violates the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions.
Previously on October 17, 2005,
a letter was also sent to the Philadelphia School District and the Philadelphia
School Reform Commission expressing concern about supporting
and/or expanding single-sex education.
Research on Single-Sex Schools:
(more information will be posted shortly)
Single-sex schooling not supported by sex differences or improvement in outcomes: http://www.campbell-kibler.com
Comments on Single-Sex Education
On April 22, 2004, the WLP submitted
comments opposing the Department of Education’s proposed amendments
to the regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
which seek to expand opportunities for single-sex education. WLP criticized the
proposed regulations as violative of applicable constitutional standards and
creating open-ended, unregulated opportunities for discrimination in education
based on parental preferences and stereotypical assumptions about the educational
needs of male and female students that will harm girls and women.
Brady v. Sacred Heart University, No. 3:03 CV 514 (AWT) (D.Ct. Conn.
Filed Mar. 24, 2003)
The Women’s Law Project represented Tara Brady in a
Title IX lawsuit against Sacred Heart University(SHU) claiming that Sacred
Heart discriminated against her on the basis of pregnancy. Tara Brady was a former
starting center for the Sacred Heart women’s basketball team. In a
joint statement released in October 2003, Tara Brady and Sacred Heart announced
the settlement of the lawsuit. SHU admitted no wrong-doing, but did agree to
clarify its existing policy prohibiting all discrimination on the basis of sex
and include a clarification in both its student handbook and Athletics Policies
and Procedures Manual that a student’s pregnancy does not affect the student’s
scholarship, academic enrollment, or team status for that season. Hope Comisky,
a partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP in Philadelphia and Ruth Pulda, with Livingston,
Adler, Pulda, Meiklejohn & Kelly in Hartford in Connecticut joined the Women’s
Law Project as co-counsel in this case. The complaint will be posted later, as
well as a copy of the press release announcing the settlement.
Jane Doe v. Penn State University No. 4:02-CV-0369
(M.D. Pa. filed Mar. 5, 2002)
WLP filed a lawsuit against Penn State University (PSU) on behalf of a former
female undergraduate student who was sexually assaulted by another student, and,
after reporting the assault, was harassed to the point that she was forced to
withdraw from the school. A favorable settlement in October, 2002 resulted in
individual relief for the student and the establishment of a neutral panel of
experts to review PSU’s policies and procedures relating to sexual assault
and harassment. On April 8, 2004, the panel delivered a report recommending improvements
to Penn State University’s policies on sexual assault, harassment, stalking,
and relationship violence. WLP supports adoption of the panel’s recommendations,
which will provide future students who are subjected to sexual violence with
greater support and more options so that they will be able to safely complete
their education. David F. Abernethy, a partner at Drinker Biddle LLP co-counseled
this matter with WLP.
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