Public Justice Works to Protect Title IX Rights for School Employees

For decades, Title IX has been an important tool for addressing sex discrimination in education. But, according to Public Justice,  a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court could determine whether that protection extends to the employees who work within our nation’s schools and universities.

The case involves two former university employees: a former women’s basketball coach at Georgia Tech, and an art professor at Augusta University. Both brought Title IX claims related to alleged sex discrimination in their employment. The Eleventh Circuit ruled that Title IX does not give school employees the right to sue for employment discrimination. The Supreme Court agreed to review the cases in May 2026.

The outcome could have far-reaching consequences. If the Supreme Court upholds the Eleventh Circuit’s decision, faculty, coaches, and staff at federally funded educational institutions could lose an important avenue for challenging sex discrimination in the workplace.

Public Justice joined an amicus brief filed by the National Women’s Law Center and Mehri & Skalet, arguing that Congress intended Title IX to provide broad protections against sex discrimination, including for employees.

Cases like this demonstrate the value of organizations willing to step in when an important legal question could affect people far beyond the parties involved. Public Justice works to hold powerful institutions accountable and protect access to justice for individuals and communities whose rights may otherwise be difficult to defend.

We appreciate the important work Public Justice continues to do to ensure that laws designed to protect people remain meaningful and enforceable. Visit PublicJustice.net to learn more. 

About Donna A. Jones

Donna Jones is the President at Advocate Capital, which became a part of Pinnacle in 2019. Ms. Jones is a member of the Board of Directors of Advocate Capital and serves as a member of the Credit Committee. Her responsibilities include education and training of Advocate Capital staff regarding civil litigation, coaching new clients on the fundamentals of Advocate’s online services, as well as its proprietary software application, AdvoTrac®, and all activities related to existing and prospective clients.