Parents of HS softball players file lawsuit alleging Title IX violations

July 16, 2015 / Athletic AdministrationSoftball
Parents of three Arkansas high school softball players have filed a lawsuit alleging the district doesn’t provide equal resources or opportunities for girls teams.

Three parents have filed a lawsuit against Fayetteville High School (Arkansas) alleging Title IX violations. | Photo: Brandon Rush, Wikimedia Commons
Three parents have filed a lawsuit against Fayetteville High School (Arkansas) alleging Title IX violations. | Photo: Brandon Rush, Wikimedia Commons

The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. It claims Fayetteville High School “boys athletic teams receive better funding, equipment, scheduling, locker rooms, training facilities, publicity, and more experienced and higher paid coaches.”

The parents seek compensation for equipment and supplies they say they were required to purchase for players. The Democrat-Gazette reported that the parents believe the district is hindering their children’s abilities to obtain a college athletic scholarship.

From the article:

Paul Hewitt, Fayetteville superintendent, wrote in an email the School District has one of the finest high school softball facilities in the United States.

“Our facilities for both boys and girls are outstanding and reflect our district’s commitment to equity,” he wrote. “We believe the quality of our athletic programs for both male and female athletes will be fully demonstrated in the pending court action.”

The article notes that the softball team has one paid coach while the baseball team has three and the football team more than a dozen.

Click here to read the complete article.


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