If you or your child experienced sexual assault or abuse connected to school, you may be wondering what the school is required to do about it. Title IX is the federal law that answers that question.
Congress passed Title IX in 1972 to prevent sex-based discrimination in schools. It applies to any K-12 school, college, or university that receives federal funding, including federal student financial aid. Sexual harassment and sexual violence can get in the way of a student’s education, so the law and its regulations require schools to respond.
Fast Facts About Title IX
- You choose what happens next. You can ask for help without filing a formal complaint.
- The school must respond. Once a school knows about sexual harassment or assault in its program, it must act promptly and offer support.
- Title IX is separate from the criminal justice system. You can use one, both, or neither.
- Parents and guardians can act on their child’s behalf—including by filing a formal complaint.
What Changed in 2026 & What Didn’t
On Sept. 29, 2026, the U.S. Department of Education formally removed its 2024 Title IX regulations from the federal rulebook and restored the version that existed before them. Federal courts had already struck down the 2024 rules, and the department has followed the earlier rules since January 2025. For most students, nothing has changed about how schools respond under Title IX.
If you’ve seen older information, including earlier versions of this page, that described the 2024 rules, here is what’s different:
- The definition of sexual harassment is narrower. Sexual harassment must be severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive to qualify. However, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking qualify immediately.
- Where it happened matters more. Title IX responsibilities apply to a school’s own programs and to settings where it had substantial control. (We’ll say more about this below.)
- Former students may have fewer options. When you file a formal complaint, you must be currently participating in, or trying to participate in, the school’s program.
- Colleges must hold live hearings. Advisors, not the students themselves, ask the questions.
Tip: A school’s own code of conduct can go further than Title IX. Many schools still act on conduct Title IX doesn’t cover. When considering a college, ask for written documentation of the school’s code of conduct around sexual violence.
What Counts as “Sexual Harassment” Under Title IX
Under Title IX, “sexual harassment” is an umbrella term that includes sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, along with other serious unwelcome sexual conduct.
Federal rules recognize three categories of sexual harassment:
#1: An employee conditioning a school benefit on sexual conduct. An example is a teacher offering a better grade in exchange for sex.
#2: Unwelcome conduct so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies someone equal access to education.
#3: Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, as defined in federal law. A single incident of these behaviors is enough to seek Title IX solutions. You do not need to show that assault happened repeatedly.
Does Title IX Apply to Your Situation?
Ask yourself these four questions:
Question #1: Does the conduct fit one of the three categories above?
Question #2: Did it happen in the school’s education program or activity? This includes places and events where the school had substantial control over both the person who caused harm and the situation. At colleges, it also includes buildings owned or controlled by officially recognized student organizations, such as some fraternity and sorority houses.
Question #3: Did it happen in the United States?
Question #4: Does the school know? Title IX responsibilities begin when the right person at the school learns about it.
Here are some examples:
| Situation | Does Title IX Apply? |
|---|---|
| A classmate assaulted the student at an off-campus party | 🟡 Maybe It depends on whether the school had substantial control over the setting, such as a school-sponsored event or a recognized student organization house. If not, Title IX may not require a formal investigation, but your school can still act under its code of conduct. Ask about options. |
| A teacher or coach abused a K-12 student | 🟢 Yes Title IX applies. The school must respond, and informal resolution is not allowed when an employee is accused of harassing a student. We encourage you to also report to law enforcement and/or child protective services. |
| The student filed a formal complaint, then withdrew from school or left | 🟡 Maybe Your complaint doesn’t automatically end. The school may dismiss it in some circumstances, such as if you ask to withdraw it or the school can’t gather enough evidence, but federal rules don’t require dismissal just because you left. Ask the Title IX coordinator in writing whether the school will continue the case and how you can take part from a distance. |
| The student was assaulted while enrolled, left school, and hasn’t filed a formal complaint | 🟡 Maybe To file a formal complaint, you must be participating in, or trying to participate in, that school’s program when you file. If you plan to return or re-enroll, tell the Title IX coordinator. You can also report to the school, ask what it can do under its own policies, and pursue other options, such as a police report or a civil claim. |
| Sexual images of the student were shared online, including AI-altered images | 🟡 Maybe Title IX may apply if the conduct is connected to the school’s program and meets the definition of “severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive.” Federal law may also require platforms to remove intimate images on request. > Learn more about tech-enabled sexual abuse |
| The assault happened on a study abroad trip | 🔴 No Title IX requirements apply only to conduct against a person in the United States. Your school’s code of conduct and other laws may still apply. |
Who to Tell & What Happens Next
K-12 Schools
Telling any school employee, including a teacher, bus driver, or cafeteria worker, counts as telling the school. In most states, all school staff are mandated reporters, which means they are required to report child sexual abuse to the correct authorities.
Colleges & Universities
The school officially “knows” when you tell the Title IX coordinator or an official with authority to take corrective action. Schools set their own rules about which other employees must pass reports along.
Counselors, health centers, and campus advocates may offer confidentiality, so ask about confidentiality before you share details.
Reporting
Anyone can report, including a parent, friend, or roommate. Schools must publish their Title IX coordinator’s contact information, and you can report at any time by phone or email.
How Your Privacy Is (& Isn’t) Protected
Schools must keep supportive measures confidential when they can, and they can’t use your counseling or medical records without your written consent. Questions about your sexual history are generally off-limits at a hearing, and you can ask to be in a separate room from the other person.
If you file a formal complaint, though, the person you’re accusing will be told who you are and will be able to see the evidence. Schools also can’t stop either side from talking about the case.
If privacy is a concern, ask the Title IX coordinator what will be shared, with whom, and when before you file a formal complaint. If you aren’t ready to file, you can ask for supportive measures without filing a formal complaint, and you can first talk to a confidential resource.
Next Steps
Once the school knows, the Title IX coordinator must promptly contact the student who was harmed. The coordinator has to discuss support, consider the student’s wishes, and explain how to file a formal complaint.
Supportive Measures: Help You Can Ask for Right Away
Supportive measures are free, individualized services. You can get them with or without a formal complaint. They can include:
- Counseling
- Deadline extensions and other course adjustments
- Changes to class or work schedules
- Campus escorts
- Mutual no-contact orders
- Changes to housing or work locations
- Leaves of absence
- Increased security in certain areas
Supportive measures aren’t punishment, and they can’t unreasonably burden the accused person. Be specific about what you need, and ask what else the school offers.
Filing a Formal Complaint: What to Expect
A formal complaint is a signed document that asks the school to investigate. The student, a parent or guardian, or the Title IX coordinator can sign the complaint.
The process starts with the presumption that the accused person is not responsible. That’s a legal starting point, not a judgment about you or your account. Some schools also offer an optional informal resolution process—but only if both sides agree voluntarily.
Your school must set a timeline. Federal rules require every school to set “reasonably prompt” time frames for finishing the process, including appeals and any informal resolution. Schools can pause the process or extend a deadline for good cause, such as a parallel police investigation, a party’s or witness’s absence, or the need for language help or disability accommodations. But a delay must be temporary and limited, and the school must tell both sides in writing what the delay is and why.
Many students don’t realize their school has to have a timeline, and delays can add up. You can protect yourself in three ways:
- Ask for the timeline in writing. Ask the Title IX coordinator for the school’s time frames and the expected dates for each step in your case.
- Ask for written notice of any delay. If the school pauses or extends the process, request the reason and the new date in writing.
- Follow up and keep records. If deadlines pass without explanation, put your concern in an email and keep a copy. You can escalate to the school’s leadership or file a complaint with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights.
The Process
#1: Written notice. Once a formal complaint is filed, the school must notify both people involved: the person who filed it and the person accused, whether that person is a student or an employee. The notice explains the allegations and the school’s grievance process.
#2: Investigation. The school, not you, is responsible for gathering evidence. Both sides can present witnesses and evidence, and both can bring an advisor of their choice, who doesn’t have to be an attorney. Your medical and counseling records can’t be used without your voluntary written consent.
#3: Evidence review. Both sides get at least 10 days to review the evidence and respond.
#4: Investigative report. Both sides receive it at least 10 days before a hearing or decision.
#5: Hearing or written questions. Colleges must hold a live hearing, where each side’s advisor asks questions directly. If you don’t have an advisor, the school must provide one at no cost. On request, you can be in a separate room. Questions about your sexual history are generally not allowed, with narrow exceptions. K-12 schools can use a hearing but don’t have to. They must at least let each side submit written questions.
- If you decide not to take part in cross-examination, a decision-maker is no longer barred by the federal rule from considering your earlier statements. How schools handle this varies, so ask about your school’s policy.
#6: Written decision. Someone other than the coordinator or investigator decides, using either a “preponderance of the evidence” or a “clear and convincing evidence” standard.
#7: Remedies and appeals. If the school finds a violation, remedies for you can include the same services offered as supportive measures. Both sides can appeal on limited grounds.
When the Person Accused Is a School Employee
The same steps apply, and schools must use the same standard of evidence for employees as for students.
The school may place an employee on leave while the process continues. Informal resolution isn’t allowed when an employee is accused of harassing a student.
If the employee leaves the school, the school may dismiss the complaint, so ask what will happen if that occurs.
If a child may have been abused, also report to law enforcement or child protective services. School staff are mandated reporters in most states.
Title IX, the Police, & Your Other Options
Title IX does NOT replace the criminal justice system, and it doesn’t require you to report to police.
A school’s Title IX process can lead to administrative discipline, such as suspension or expulsion.
A criminal case can lead to charges and prison time.
You can pursue either, both, or neither—and you don’t have to decide immediately after the harm occurs.
If You’re a Parent or Guardian
Title IX allows parents and guardians to act on their child’s behalf. These steps can help:
- Listen, believe, and follow your child’s lead. Get medical care if needed.
- Report in writing. Email the principal, a teacher, or the Title IX coordinator. Keep a copy.
- Keep records. Note dates, names, what was said, and what the school did.
- Ask for supportive measures in writing. Name specific needs, such as a schedule change or a different seat.
- Ask for the school’s Title IX policy and the coordinator’s contact information.
- Know that school staff are mandated reporters of suspected child abuse in most states. They may have to contact child protective services or law enforcement.
- Follow up. Ask the school to confirm in writing what it has done and what comes next.
If the School Doesn’t Respond
- Escalate within the school system. Contact the district Title IX coordinator or superintendent, or the college’s president or board.
- File a complaint with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights. There is generally a 180-day deadline.
- Talk with an attorney about legal claims, which have their own deadlines.
- Contact your state attorney general or state education agency, which may offer additional options.
Set Realistic Expectations for an OCR Complaint
Filing with the Education Department’s Office for Civil Rights can be an important step, but it can take a long time. Many complaints remain open for years, so don’t count on it to resolve things by next semester or next school year. Keep asking your school for supportive measures in the meantime, and consider other options alongside it, such as talking with an attorney or contacting your state’s education agency.
Start Where You Are
You don’t have to figure this out alone. Start with whatever step feels manageable, whether that’s talking to someone you trust, asking your school for support in writing, or reaching out to RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline.
What happened to you is not your fault, and you deserve a school environment where you can learn and feel safe. We’re here whenever you’re ready.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, you are not alone. RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support in English and en Español.
Call 800.656.HOPE (4673)
Chat at RAINN.org/hotline
Text “HOPE” to 64673
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Last updated: October 8, 2026