Cobb County School District Administrative Rules
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Student Activities: Gender Equity in Sports
(See Form JJIF-1)

JJIF 8/10/05
RATIONALE/OBJECTIVE:

The Cobb County School District (District) is dedicated to providing students an effective and safe learning environment during the school day and all school-related activities.
The District prohibits discrimination based on gender in any interscholastic or intramural athletics program offered by the District.

RULE:

The District's high schools shall not participate in, sponsor, or provide coaching staff for interscholastic sports events which are conducted under the authority of, conducted under the rules of, or scheduled by any athletic association unless the charter, bylaws, or other governing documents of such athletic association comply with the Georgia Equity in Sports Act.

A. SPORTS EQUITY COORDINATOR:
    1. The Superintendent shall designate an individual, known as the sports equity
        coordinator, to coordinate compliance with the Georgia Equity in Sports Act.
    2. The District shall annually notify all its students of the name, office address, and
        office telephone number of the sports equity coordinator.
    3. The sports equity coordinator shall investigate any complaint received by the District
        alleging noncompliance with the Georgia Equity in Sports Act. The investigation shall
        be in accordance with the grievance procedures provided by this Administrative Rule.

B. DONATIONS:
The District acknowledges that it has authority to accept donations. Donations may be monetary, real or personal property or services. Any donations made to athletic programs of the District shall conform to state and federal laws and to the policies of the Board. To assist the District in maintaining compliance with the Georgia Equity in Sports Act, any donations made to athletic programs of the District must be accompanied by either a valuation of such donation or an accounting of actual costs incurred by the donor regarding the donation. The Director of Student Activities, Policy and Planning shall establish criteria for the evaluation of offers and acceptance of donations to the athletic programs of the District.

C. COMPLAINT PROCEDURES:
Any student, or a parent/guardian on behalf of his/her minor child who is a student, who feels that he/she has been discriminated against based upon gender in violation of the Georgia Equity in Sports Act may file a complaint as follows:
    1. The student or parent/guardian must complete Form JJIF-1 and submit it to the sports
        equity coordinator. The sports equity coordinator shall date-stamp the complaint
        when received.
    2. The sports equity coordinator shall take reasonable steps to ascertain the essential
        facts regarding the circumstances surrounding the complaint. The sports equity
        coordinator may obtain additional information from the complainant and/or other
        individuals that may have knowledge of the circumstances surrounding the alleged
        violation. The confidentiality of any information obtained shall be maintained in
        accordance with federal and state law and the District’s policies on confidentiality of
        student and employee information.
    3. The sports equity coordinator shall render a decision in writing no later than 30
        calendar days after receipt of the complaint, and such decision shall set forth the
        facts and rationale for the decision.
    4. A copy of the decision shall be provided to the complainant within five calendar days
        of the date of the decision, by certified mail or hand delivery to the address provided
        by the complainant on the complaint form. Notification to the complainant of the
        decision shall be deemed to have been made on the date of hand delivery or on the
        date of deposit in the United States mail by certified mail, return receipt requested, to
        the address stated in the complaint.
    5. A complainant shall have the right to appeal the decision of the sports equity
       coordinator to the Cobb County Board of Education (Board) within 35 calendar days of
       the date of the decision. The request for appeal must be submitted by the
       complainant in writing to the Superintendent. The Superintendent's office shall date-
       stamp the appeal when received.
    6. The Board shall render a decision in writing no later than 30 calendar days or at the
        next regularly scheduled Board meeting after receipt of the appeal, whichever is later,
        and such decision shall set forth the facts and rationale for the decision.
    7. A copy of the decision of the Board shall be provided to the complainant within five
        calendar days of the date of the date of the decision, by certified mail or hand
        delivery to the address provided by the complainant on the complaint form.
        Notification to the complainant of the decision shall be deemed to have been made on
        the date of hand delivery or on the date of deposit in the United States mail by
        certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address stated in the complaint.
    8. A complainant may appeal a decision of the Board to the State Board of Education in
       accordance with the procedures specified in O.C.G.A.§ 20-2-1160.

Adopted: 7/26/01
Reclassified an Administrative Rule: 9/1/04
Reviewed: 8/10/05