Fort Worth ISD faces fed investigation over gender equity in athletics, girls rugby
The Fort Worth Independent School District is in the crosshairs of two federal investigations, with the latest one revolving around equity in girls sports.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights opened a Title IX investigation in August after a complaint was filed in March by Fort Worth ISD teacher Alex McCulloch, who claims that the district has failed to provide equal athletic opportunities for female students, specifically those who have advocated for the addition of rugby as a varsity sport.
Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs that receive public money.
McCulloch, who has coached girls rugby as a club team since 2008, told the Star-Telegram that the issue has been simmering for years with students speaking out to district officials and taking legal actions against the district but to no avail. One of the noted issues includes lack of accessibility to adequate athletic fields for club practice, in addition to the lack of recognition of girls rugby as a varsity sport despite growing interest that’s spread to at least seven other schools in the district, according to the complaint McCulloch shared with the Star-Telegram.
“During the initial two years rugby was offered and supported as a Fort Worth Afterschool Program activity, there were roughly 30+ and 40+ female students participating at Paschal and Trimble Tech High Schools, respectively,” the complaint reads.
The complaint also claims that there have been gaps between the percentage of female athletic participation in comparison to the district’s female enrollment for high schoolers. The district-wide gaps spanned from 7-12% over a decade, starting with the 2012-2013 school year.
“How do we really say for these girls, ‘Hey, this is a legitimate sport to develop?’” McCulloch said. “Over the years, a lot of these girls have really had to put up with a lot just to get what they have, and that’s the disappointing thing.”
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Education declined to comment but confirmed the ongoing Title IX investigation and another investigation into alleged racial harassment that was opened in April. It’s unclear what prompted the racial harassment investigation; The Star-Telegram has requested a copy of the complaint.
Fort Worth ISD officials pointed to the creation of a steering committee for gender equity as a way the district has addressed expansion of athletics to female students, in addition to adding girls flag football as a district sport.
“Beyond this significant addition to its athletics program, Fort Worth ISD and the committee continue the important mission to strengthen athletic programming for its female students to ensure it is meeting and exceeding the athletic interests of all students,” district spokesperson Jessica Becerra said in a statement. “Fort Worth ISD takes its Title IX obligations seriously and has always been committed to providing equal athletic opportunities to meet the interests and abilities of all students.”
