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Dem bill requires schools to tell the government how many girls are playing sports
Democrats in the House and Senate have proposed legislation that would require high schools to report the number of girls playing school sports to the Department of Education, and the amount of money that is being spent on boys' and girls' athletic programs.
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), the sponsors of The High School Data Transparency Act, said the bill is meant to ensure that girls get the same chance to play sports that boys get. They said there are 1.3 million fewer girls than boys playing sports in high school, despite laws like Title IX that require schools to fund girls' sporting activities if they take federal money.
"I've met with many Olympic gold medalists who have told me that Title IX — and the accompanying athletic scholarships it made possible — was the reason they were able to attend college and pursue their dreams," Slaughter said in a release announcing the bill. "Any girl in America who wants to participate in athletics should be given the chance to realize their dreams, and this bill will make sure they have that opportunity."
A description of the bill said that data is already collected by schools and sent to state Departments of Education, and thus should "put a minimal burden on high schools." Under the bill, the data would then be available to the public on the Department of Education's website.
It said that with this information, "we can ensure that girls all over the country have the chance not only to improve their athletic ability, but also to develop the qualities of teamwork, discipline, and self-confidence that lead to success on and off the playing field."
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