Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 and related regulations prohibit gender discrimination in education: No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance, 20 U.S.C. 1681(a).

In a suit brought by the coach and members of Quinnipiac University's women’s volleyball team – one of three sports teams cut and replaced by competitive cheerleading -- challenging the University's compliance with Title IX, the judge concluded that Quinnipiac discriminated as a matter of law by failing to provide equal athletic opportunities for women during the 2009-2010 academic year. The court held that competitive cheerleading did not qualify as a varsity sport for purposes of Title IX, because it is currently “too underdeveloped and disorganized to be treated as offering genuine varsity athletic participation opportunities for students.”

For press coverage of the decision, see:
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Los Angeles Times
Connecticut Post