North Haven Board of Education v. BellSupreme Court

Cite as: 456 U.S. 512 (1982)

Keywords: Title IX, employment, sex discrimination, federal funds, federal financial assistance

FactsTwo Connecticut public school boards brought separate suits challenging the Department of Health of Education and Welfare's (HEW) authority to issue Title IX that prohibit federally funded institutions from discriminating on the basis of gender with respect to employment. Petitioners contend that the scope of Title IX was not meant to reach the employment practices of educational institutions.

IssueDoes Title IX reach the employment practices of education institutions?

HoldingRelying on legislative history, the Court found that Title IX does protect employees as well as students from discrimination on the basis of gender by federally financed education programs. The Court also held that termination of petitioners federal funds for such discrimination were subject to the program-specific limitation set forth under §902 of Title IX, but remanded the case to the District Court for further proceedings on this issue.

Summarized by: Matt Bower