<P> Advocates of Title IX's current interpretation cite increases in female athletic participation, and attribute those increases to Title IX . One study, completed in 2006, pointed to a large increase in the number of women participating in athletics at both the high school and college level . The number of women in high school sports had increased by a factor of nine, while the number of women in college sports had increased by more than 450% . A 2008 study of intercollegiate athletics showed that women's collegiate sports have grown to 9,101 teams, or 8.65 per school . The five most frequently offered college sports for women are, in order: (1) Basketball, 98.8% of schools have a team; (2) Volleyball, 95.7%; (3) Soccer, 92.0%; (4) Cross Country; 90.8%, and (5) Softball; 89.2% . </P> <P> At the same time, many contend that the current interpretation of Title IX by the OCR has resulted in the dismantling of men's programs, despite strong participation in those sports . For example, though interest in the sport of wrestling has consistently increased at the high school level since 1990, scores of colleges have dropped their wrestling programs during that same period . The OCR's three - prong test for compliance with Title IX often is cited as the reason for these cuts . Wrestling historically was the most frequently dropped sport, but other men's sports later overtook the lead, such that according to the NCAA, the most - dropped men's sports between 1987 and 2002 were as follows: Cross country (183), indoor track (180), golf (178), tennis (171), rowing (132), outdoor track (126), swimming (125) and wrestling (121). </P> <P> Some believe that the increase in athletic opportunity for girls in high school has come at the expense of boys' athletics . For example, the College Sports Council has stated, "Nationwide, there are currently 1.3 million more boys participating in high school sports than girls . Using a gender quota to enforce Title IX in high school sports would put those young athletes at risk of losing their opportunity to play ." High school participation rates from the National Federation of High School associations report that in 2010--11, there were 4,494,406 boys and 3,173,549 girls participating in high school athletics . </P> <P> There have been different interpretations regarding Title IX's application to high school athletics . The American Sports Council sued the Department of Education in 2011 seeking a declaratory judgment that its policy interpreting Title IX's requirement for equity in participation opportunities is limited to colleges and universities . The American Sports Council argued that "The three - part test and its encouragement of quotas, has no relevance to high schools or high - school sports, and no federal regulation or interpretation has ever said that high schools must abide by the three - part test". On the other hand, the Department of Education insists that Title IX is a "valuable tool" for ensuring a level playing field for all students" and "plays a critical role in ensuring a fundamental level of fairness in America's schools and universities". </P>

Title ix of the education amendments acts of 1972