The U.S. Department of Education announced plans to restore Title IX regulations that were removed by the Trump administration, NPR Reports. This plan was announced on the 50th anniversary of Title IX, which protects students from sex-based discrimination at school and other federally funded programs. These Title IX expansions are more inclusive of LGBTQ students and broaden victim protection. The Biden administration is modifying the language of Title IX to include protections against gender identity and sexual orientation.
The amendments also expand pregnancy protections. Schools must provide reasonable modifications for pregnant students. Pregnant employees must be given adequate time off and lactation spaces in schools. In May 2020, Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Education Secretary, rolled back schools' responsibility to report Title IX violations and strengthened protections for those accused. Supporters of these changes believed that they were fairer to all students. The Trump administration’s version of Title IX required investigations only on sexual harassment accusations. Under the Biden administration expansion, all discrimination complaints would have to be investigated.