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Arlington board reverts to pre‑2024 Title IX policy language, reinstates prior harassment policies and adopts nondiscrimination update
Summary
Following a court decision affecting 2024 Title IX regulations, the Arlington School District board voted to retire policies adopted under the newer regulations and to reinstate earlier policy language; the board also approved multiple policy adoptions and routine governance updates.
The Arlington School District Board of Directors voted to retire several board policies that had been adopted to align with the 2024 federal Title IX regulations and to reinstate earlier policy language the district used prior to August 1, 2024, citing a federal court decision that found the 2024 regulation changes unconstitutional.
Eric Dion, the district’s executive director of human services, told the board the changes were prompted by a court ruling in Kentucky that overturned the 2024 Title IX regulation changes and that the district would “go back to the policies that we had in place prior to the August 1” implementation date. He summarized the board’s actions as “rebooting everything back to the policies that we had in place prior to…the August 1 or November when we adopted ours.”
Nut graf: The board approved immediate retirements and reinstatements of multiple harassment and nondiscrimination policies so the district’s policy language aligns with current federal and state guidance and with model policies recommended to the district. The board also approved a new nondiscrimination and inclusive‑schools policy and several governance policy updates on second reading.
Key board actions included immediate retirement of policy 3205 (student discrimination and harassment language adopted under the 2024 regulations) and immediate reinstatement of the district’s prior policy 3205 (special harassment of students prohibited). The board also retired policy 3206 (pregnant and parenting students), retired and reinstated staff harassment policy 5011 and retired policy 5012 (parental/family/marital status and pregnancy conditions of staff). Eric Dion said the changes mostly return the district to the 2020 regulations and prior policy language.
Board members discussed relying on model policy language provided by the Washington State School Directors' Association (WSSDA) while legal developments remain unsettled. Board member Mary said the district’s legal counsel advised using WSSDA model policies “for now.”
The board also approved the first reading and adoption of policy 3210 (nondiscrimination and inclusive schools) at first reading adoption at the same meeting; student advisers were asked for their input and both student advisers present indicated they would vote yes. In addition, the board approved second reading and adoption of governance policies 11/10 (elections), 12/20 (board officers and duties) and 12/40 (committees).
Votes at a glance: the transcript records roll‑call votes on each action listed below; each motion passed by recorded ayes from the board members present.
Ending: Board members said they sought to keep students “at the center” of decisions as policy language is adjusted; staff will return with any further legal guidance or model policy updates as needed.
