Salt Lake City schools report increased athletic participation, add esports and unified sports but raise concerns about scheduling, fees and funding

Salt Lake City School District officials presented the district's 2024—-25 Title IX report at the board meeting on Aug. 5, outlining participation trends, program changes and steps the district plans to take to increase access and better communicate athletic opportunities.

The report, presented by Emily Sutherland, Tina Hatch and Nemani Satwala, said survey changes this year doubled student responses and helped identify new or expanding student interests. "This year, we actually pushed [the survey] out during advisory periods...and as a result of that, we have twice as many students who opted in this year as in the previous years," Sutherland said.

Why it matters: The report is the district's annual compliance check under federal Title IX rules. District staff said better participation in the interest survey improves planning for equitable athletic opportunities and helps justify additions or changes in offerings.

Key points from the report - Participation and offerings: The district said it added e-sports as a sanctioned activity this year after high student interest, and expanded unified sports. Drill team will be coed for the first time. - Access and costs: Officials told the board that Title IX requires equitable opportunities, not dollar-for-dollar spending parity. Differences in reported team expenditures can reflect equipment costs (for example, football helmets vs. baseball helmets), travel and tournament participation. - Fees and physicals: The district updated its fee schedule and said it has provided more than 450 athletic physicals at a new clinic at West High School so students without health care can participate. - Scheduling conflicts: Students reported missing entire class blocks because of later athletic start times; the district said it will study ways to reduce repeated class absences. - Outreach and communications: District staff said they will consolidate communications through ParentSquare and add a district advertising plan so students know about tryouts and activities, including outreach for lower-profile sports.

Board and community questions Board members and parents pressed staff on how to reach students who lack access to ParentSquare and on equity between boys' and girls' subvarsity team opportunities. Charlotte Fife Jefferson asked for consistent, multilingual outreach across five channels she listed (ParentSquare, tryout bulletin board, PA announcements, social media and school website) so families and community members receive the same information.

Board member Ashley Anderson raised the prospect that middle school programs funded by the TAP grant could lose that support and asked what the district would do if the grant is discontinued. Staff said there are no district funds currently earmarked to replace the grant; options would include charging participation fees or seeking foundation support.

Coaching, training and compliance District leaders described a ramp-up in required coach trainings and standardized coach agreements intended to reduce spending disparities tied to inconsistent fundraising or late coach hires. "We're having these rolling trainings so that [coaches hired midyear] are getting the same information," Sutherland said.

What remains unsettled Board members asked the district to track the effects of scheduling on academics, review travel and equipment expenditures that produce large cost differences between sports, and monitor the TAP grant's future. Staff said they will return with follow-up information if policy or scheduling changes are needed.

Ending note: The Title IX report will be part of ongoing board oversight. Staff described plans for further outreach to athletic directors and principals and for district-level advertising to increase participation and awareness.