Oakland schools reconsider sports cuts after gender equality concerns

Oakland school officials said Saturday they were “re-examining” the decision to eliminate 10 sports at city high schools after it was determined that the cuts hit girls harder than boys and likely leave the district in violation of federal law.

The decision to cut the teams — coming two weeks into the school year — appears to violate Title IX, a civil rights statute requiring schools to provide boys and girls an equal opportunity to participate in athletics.

The official announcement Friday eliminated bowling, golf, tennis, wrestling, swimming, girls’ lacrosse, girls’ badminton and boys’ volleyball.