May 19, 2026
When schools fail to respond appropriately to sex-based harm, students’ education and well-being are impacted. The new resource from Stop Sexual Assault in Schools, Ten Things You Can Do When a Title IX Complaint Fails, offers practical steps for pursuing accountability when the federal Title IX process is delayed, ineffective, or ignored.
This resource is particularly timely as the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) faces reduced capacity to investigate Title IX complaints following the closure of seven regional offices and significant staff reductions. SSAIS notes that these changes leave students and families waiting indefinitely for federal action and searching for alternatives.
The resource provides students, caregivers, and advocates 10 concrete actions, including researching school district policies and complaint procedures, working with victim advocates, learning about state protections, contacting state education agencies, seeking legal advice, and advocating for change through school boards and local communities. It also emphasizes the importance of trauma-informed investigations.
Families must not be expected to navigate a failed school response without guidance. This resource provides students and caregivers practical information to understand their options, find additional sources of support, and pursue accountability at the local and state levels.
The resource encourages families to document communications and create a timeline of events, steps that can prove valuable when escalating a complaint or seeking outside assistance.
Read Ten Things You Can Do When a Title IX Complaint Fails here.