The Lowell Public Schools policy subcommittee was advised to revert multiple Title IX–related policies to 2022 model language after a recent federal court ruling, and staff said they will circulate updated documents reflecting that change to the full committee.

A presenter from the Association of School Committees (Alicia) told members that a legal ruling issued the prior week altered the applicable guidance: the ruling, she said, effectively reverted the department and model-policy advice back to earlier (2022) language rather than the newer 2024 drafts. Because of that change, the presenter recommended keeping the 2022 MASC versions for policies including ACA (nondiscrimination), ACAB (harassment), and related regulations, and to remove or withhold adoption of several 2024-recommended policies (for example, ACGA and ACGB) until further guidance is available.

The subcommittee discussed scope and process. Members asked whether the reverted language would affect sports-related procedures and transgender-athlete implementation; the presenter said those operational questions would be handled through procedures and might require guidance from DESE, the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), and district legal counsel. She emphasized that the 2022 language reflects current legally required wording and that final implementation steps and any accompanying procedures should be reviewed with district counsel.

Next steps: The presenter said she would prepare an electronic version of the revised policy packet (with 2022 versions and any removals clearly marked) and circulate it to committee members "tonight" for the full committee meeting. The subcommittee did not adopt new Title IX policy text at this meeting but agreed to move forward with the 2022-model recommendations and with staff-led redlines and cross-reference updates.

Why it matters: Title IX and related civil-rights policies carry legal requirements and affect district duties on nondiscrimination and due process. The reversion affects how the district frames nondiscrimination language and grievance procedures until further federal or state guidance is issued.

Ending: Staff will prepare a cleaned electronic packet for the full committee and consult district legal counsel and state guidance as needed before final adoption.