Backpacks are packed, class schedules are out, and Colorado students are heading back to school. As you review the paperwork that comes home in the first weeks — handbooks, codes of conduct, permission slips — there is one set of rights worth understanding before you ever need it: your child’s rights under Title IX.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination in any education program that receives federal funding. That includes virtually every public school district and charter school in Colorado, as well as most colleges and universities. Because the federal rules have shifted several times in recent years, this is a good moment for a plain-language refresher on what the law requires today and how Colorado law adds protections of its own.
What Title IX actually covers
Many parents associate Title IX with college athletics, but its reach in K-12 schools is much broader. Title IX addresses sexual harassment and sexual assault by students or staff, discrimination in athletics and access to classes and programs, discrimination against pregnant and parenting students, and unequal discipline or treatment based on sex. If your child is being harassed, excluded, or treated differently because of their sex, Title IX is likely part of the conversation.
Where the federal rules stand right now
As of the 2026–27 school year, schools operate under the 2020 Title IX regulations. A federal court vacated the 2024 rewrite of the rules in January 2025, and the U.S. Department of Education directed schools to return to the 2020 framework. The Department has signaled that a new rule is on the way, but until it is final, the 2020 regulations set the floor for how every Colorado district must respond to sex discrimination. (We covered the shifting federal landscape in more detail in our earlier post, “Title IX in 2026: What’s Changing, What’s Coming, and What Families Should Watch.”)
Your child’s core rights under the current rules
Every district must have a Title IX Coordinator. Schools are required to designate a coordinator and publish that person’s name and contact information — typically in the student handbook and on the district website. This is the person who receives reports and explains the process.
Parents can act on their child’s behalf. In K-12 schools, a parent or guardian has the right to file a formal complaint for their student and to participate in the process. You do not have to wait for your child to navigate it alone.
A report to any school employee counts. In elementary and secondary schools, once any employee — a teacher, coach, counselor, or aide — knows about possible sexual harassment, the school is considered to be on notice and must respond.
Supportive measures are available even without a formal complaint. Schools must offer supports such as schedule changes, no-contact directives, counseling referrals, or increased supervision, whether or not your family chooses to pursue a formal investigation.
A fair, prompt grievance process. If a formal complaint is filed, both sides are entitled to written notice, an objective investigation where they can present evidence and witnesses, a trained decision-maker, and the right to appeal. K-12 schools are not required to hold live hearings the way colleges are.
Retaliation is prohibited. A school may not punish or intimidate a student — or a parent — for reporting discrimination or participating in an investigation.
Colorado law adds another layer of protection
One of the most important things for Colorado families to understand is that federal Title IX is a floor, not a ceiling. Even as federal rules shift, Colorado students keep significant protections under state law.
- The Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA) prohibits discrimination in places of public accommodation, including schools, based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, among other characteristics.
- Senate Bill 23-296 (C.R.S. § 22-1-143) requires public schools to take reports of harassment or discrimination through multiple channels, investigate them in good faith, protect confidentiality, and train staff to recognize harassment.
- House Bill 24-1039 requires school personnel to use a student’s chosen name, and treats intentional refusal to do so as a form of discrimination.
- The Kelly Loving Act (2025) reinforced these protections, including requirements that dress codes apply equally to all students and that name-change policies accommodate every reason a student may use a chosen name. Some provisions face ongoing legal challenges, but the law is currently in effect.
The practical takeaway: if you are told that a recent federal change means your child “no longer has rights” in a given situation, that is often not the full picture in Colorado.
A back-to-school checklist for parents
- Find your Title IX Coordinator now. Look in the handbook or on the district website and save the contact information before you need it.
- Read the district’s Title IX and anti-discrimination policies. Note how to report, whether deadlines apply to appeals, and what supportive measures are listed.
- Put reports in writing. Email creates a record. Keep copies of everything you send and receive, and note dates, names, and what was said.
- Ask specifically about supportive measures. Schools must consider them, but families often have to ask.
- Know your escalation options. If the school does not respond appropriately, you can appeal within the district, file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (generally within 180 days), or pursue remedies under Colorado law.
When to talk to an Education Lawyer
Most back-to-school questions never require an attorney. But if your child has experienced sexual harassment or assault at school, if the school has failed to respond to a report, if your student has been accused of misconduct and is facing a Title IX investigation, or if you believe discipline or retaliation followed a report, early legal guidance can make a meaningful difference. These processes move quickly, and the record created in the first days often shapes the outcome.
At Brown Education Law Group, we help Colorado families on both sides of Title IX matters — students who have experienced assault, discrimination or harassment, and students accused of wrongdoing. If a Title IX issue is affecting your student, reach out to schedule a consultation. We can help you understand your options and advocate for your child from the very first conversation with the school.
