A Sigh of Relief for Private Schools: 4th Circuit Rules Tax-Exempt Status Does Not Trigger Title IX Coverage

By Brian Guerinot and Kristin L. Smith, of Fisher & Phillips LLP On March 27, 2024, a federal appeals court ruled that Title IX does not apply to a private school based purely on its nonprofit status, reversing a lower court’s bombshell decision that put the entire private and independent school community on notice. This decision by the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals represents a big win for private schools in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina –