On June 23, 2022, President Biden’s U.S. Department of Education released the much-anticipated proposed Title IX regulations. The proposed regulations are a major step by the Biden administration in its effort to overhaul the Trump-era Title IX regulations. The proposed regulations would make significant changes, including expanding the definition of hostile environment sex-based harassment; removing the requirement for a formal, written complaint; providing more flexibility in the grievance process for K-12 schools; adding new notice and training requirements; and providing explicit protections for LGBTQ individuals as well as students and employees who are pregnant or parenting. Additionally, the proposed regulations acknowledge the intersection between Title IX and special education laws but provide little guidance on how to navigate the complex questions that arise when students with disabilities are involved in Title IX complaints.  

Specifically, the proposed regulations define “student with a disability” and, to help ensure compliance with disability laws, require consultation between the Title IX coordinator and the IEP or 504 team when a complainant or respondent is a student with a disability. That’s it—An acknowledgment that students with disabilities may be involved in Title IX complaints and a directive for the Title IX coordinator to consult with the student’s special education team to figure out how to comply with both laws and meet the needs of the student.