Supreme Court applies Title IX to students suffering sexual harassment

In a 9-0 decision the U.S. Supreme Court held on Wednesday that students who are sexually harassed or discriminated against are protected by the federal civil rights statutes.  A girl who was harassed on a school bus filed suit, through her parents, under Title IX and 42 US 1983,  claiming that the School District did not take adequate steps to protect the girl from an older student's inappropriate behavior.  The lower court held that Title IX actually barred a civil rights claim brought under the latter statute, and the jury ruled against the family on the Title IX claim. 

The unanimous Supreme Court held that the family should have been allowed to proceed under both statutes, as it was not the intent of Congress that Title IX bar other civil rights actions.