Which statement best describes retaliation under Title IX?

• A. Retaliation is allowed if the report was false.
• B. Retaliation refers to harassment unrelated to reporting.
• C. Retaliation is adverse action against someone for reporting or participating, which is prohibited.
• D. Retaliation only applies to staff, not students.

Answer: (C)

Retaliation under Title IX means taking adverse action against someone because they reported harassment or participated in a Title IX investigation or related process. The key idea is protection: no one should face punishment, bullying, threats, or other punitive consequences for coming forward or helping with the process. This protection covers everyone in the school community—students, staff, and even third parties—in any setting the school controls, such as classrooms, housing, or extracurricular activities.

It’s important that retaliation is prohibited regardless of whether the underlying report is found to be true or false. The safety of those who report and participate is the focus, not the outcome of the investigation.