College Sports Council Says Interest Survey Solution is "Breakthrough Alternative to Gender Quota"    WASHINGTON, D.C. - March 22, 2005 - The College Sports Council, a national coalition of coaches, parents and athletes is praising action taken by the Department of Education to reform the way Title IX is being enforced.      "This clarification now gives schools a viable, common-sense alternative to the gender quota that has wreaked havoc on college athletics," said Eric Pearson, CSC Executive Director.  "There is still work to be done but this is a positive step toward restoring Title IX to its original intent, fairness for all student athletes. Schools will no longer feel bound to proportionality and forced to eliminate sports opportunities for male athletes now that they can accurately measure and meet interest for male and female student athletes."    On March 17 the Office of Civil Rights issued a clarification of Title IX's three-part compliance test. The CSC sees this announcement as a significant reform breakthrough since, for the first time, there is now specific, straightforward guidance for educational institutions to comply with the interest and abilities requirement of Title IX's regulations.    "For years now, athletes, parents, coaches and supporters have been pressing a heartfelt case that athletic teams were being sized down and eliminated all over the country," said Pearson.  "At long last, the Department of Education has heard those voices and and we are now passing an important milestone toward protecting athletes from the ravages of the artificial quota system called 'proportionality.'"      Additional Background and Sources:   www.collegesportscouncil.org    The OCR's letter is posted at:  http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/title9guidanceadditional.html