A high school athlete says her coaches reprimanded her for complaining about not being able to work out in a sports bra amid the sweltering Texas heat.

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In a letter to Spring Branch Independent School District administrators, the American Civil Liberties Union said the girl’s mistreatment has led to valuable opportunities being taken away from her and her love for her sport diminished.

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In a statement to KHOU, a Spring Branch ISD spokesperson said the district is investigating the the situation.

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“Spring Branch ISD denies any discrimination and treats students equally and fairly,” the statement read. “We are aware of the situation with one student at one of our high schools who is dissatisfied with SBISD practices, which are applied to all athletes at that campus.”

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As cross country practices began at Spring Woods High School in summer 2022, boys and girls were told they could run shirtless — a longstanding practice at the school, as some days can exceed 100 degrees, according to the ACLU.

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But shortly after, the girls were told they had to wear shirts and could not work out in their sports bras, the letter stated.

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The school district dress code changed for both boys and girls, with a district employee calling it “inappropriate to be showing skin as a high school student.”

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Despite this, a boy on the cross country team took off his shirt during a practice just days later, according to the ACLU. When the girl saw the boy was not punished, she took off her shirt to work out in her sports bra.

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“Immediately, the coaches yelled at her to put a shirt on,” the ACLU said. “When (the girl) pointed out that the same coaches were allowing a boy to practice without issue, they then asked that student to don a shirt.”

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After she was reprimanded for running in a sports bra, she shared to coaches that she felt the girls were not being treated as fairly as the boys. The girl and a teammate were kicked out of practice, according to the letter.

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The girl also said she was mistreated the previous year at the school’s winter sports banquet. Despite being the top female runner on her cross country team and having never missed a practice, she was denied an award, according to the ACLU. She called this “an important credential for college applications and recruiting.”

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She then said she was “deliberately ignored” as the cross country season transitioned into this year’s winter track season. She and her teammates on the girls’ team complained to administration, but the district did not take any action, according to the ACLU.

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“Since being dismissed, mistreated and improperly coached by district employees, (the girl) has never been able to reach her personal record again,” the ACLU said. “Her coaches’ mistreatment and discriminatory conduct has severely diminished her love for the sport, and their failure to coach (her) and her teammates has negatively impacted her chances of gaining an athletic scholarship for college.”

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The ACLU hopes to meet with school district administrators to discuss what it calls “serious concerns” over the dress code, which it says “reflects and reinforces invidious sex stereotypes.” It says the district is in violation of federal Title IX rules, which prohibit “retaliation against individuals who complain about gender discrimination.”

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A high school athlete says her coaches reprimanded her for complaining about not being able to work out in a sports bra amid the sweltering Texas heat.

[–>

In a letter to Spring Branch Independent School District administrators, the American Civil Liberties Union said the girl’s mistreatment has led to valuable opportunities being taken away from her and her love for her sport diminished.

[–>

In a statement to KHOU, a Spring Branch ISD spokesperson said the district is investigating the the situation.

[–>

“Spring Branch ISD denies any discrimination and treats students equally and fairly,” the statement read. “We are aware of the situation with one student at one of our high schools who is dissatisfied with SBISD practices, which are applied to all athletes at that campus.”

[–>

As cross country practices began at Spring Woods High School in summer 2022, boys and girls were told they could run shirtless — a longstanding practice at the school, as some days can exceed 100 degrees, according to the ACLU.

[–>

But shortly after, the girls were told they had to wear shirts and could not work out in their sports bras, the letter stated.

[–>

The school district dress code changed for both boys and girls, with a district employee calling it “inappropriate to be showing skin as a high school student.”

[–>

Despite this, a boy on the cross country team took off his shirt during a practice just days later, according to the ACLU. When the girl saw the boy was not punished, she took off her shirt to work out in her sports bra.

[–>

“Immediately, the coaches yelled at her to put a shirt on,” the ACLU said. “When (the girl) pointed out that the same coaches were allowing a boy to practice without issue, they then asked that student to don a shirt.”

[–>

After she was reprimanded for running in a sports bra, she shared to coaches that she felt the girls were not being treated as fairly as the boys. The girl and a teammate were kicked out of practice, according to the letter.

[–>

The girl also said she was mistreated the previous year at the school’s winter sports banquet. Despite being the top female runner on her cross country team and having never missed a practice, she was denied an award, according to the ACLU. She called this “an important credential for college applications and recruiting.”

[–>

She then said she was “deliberately ignored” as the cross country season transitioned into this year’s winter track season. She and her teammates on the girls’ team complained to administration, but the district did not take any action, according to the ACLU.

[–>

“Since being dismissed, mistreated and improperly coached by district employees, (the girl) has never been able to reach her personal record again,” the ACLU said. “Her coaches’ mistreatment and discriminatory conduct has severely diminished her love for the sport, and their failure to coach (her) and her teammates has negatively impacted her chances of gaining an athletic scholarship for college.”

[–>

The ACLU hopes to meet with school district administrators to discuss what it calls “serious concerns” over the dress code, which it says “reflects and reinforces invidious sex stereotypes.” It says the district is in violation of federal Title IX rules, which prohibit “retaliation against individuals who complain about gender discrimination.”

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