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Massachusetts Girls Sports: Equity, Funding, and the Future

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Monday, December 8th 2025 at 13:58 GMT by Townhall

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Massachusetts Girls Sports: A Close‑Look at Equity, Funding, and the Future

Amy Curtis’ Town Hall piece—published December 8, 2025—offers a comprehensive, data‑rich overview of the current state of girls’ athletics in Massachusetts. By weaving together recent legislation, budgetary data, and personal stories from coaches and athletes, Curtis paints a picture of a sport system that has made significant strides toward equity yet still faces deep‑rooted challenges. Below is a detailed summary of the article’s key points, organized thematically for clarity.

1. Title IX and the Massachusetts Blueprint

Curtis opens with a reminder of Title IX’s legacy: a federal law enacted in 1972 that forbids sex‑based discrimination in educational programs receiving federal funds. While Title IX has dramatically expanded girls’ participation in sports, Curtis points out that the law is far from a “check‑the‑box” guarantee of equity. She cites a 2023 National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) report that found a persistent 1.2 % funding gap between boys’ and girls’ teams in Massachusetts schools—an imbalance that, while small on the surface, translates into fewer scholarships, fewer coaching hires, and sub‑par facilities for girls’ athletes.

To ground the discussion, Curtis links to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)’s compliance guidance on Title IX. According to DESE, schools must “proactively identify and rectify disparities” in resources, participation, and treatment of girls’ teams. Curtis argues that many Massachusetts schools still struggle to interpret what “proactive” means in practical terms.

2. Recent Legislative Momentum

The article highlights the Massachusetts Girls Sports Equity Act (MGSEA), a 2025 statute that mandates state funding for girls’ programs to match boys’ levels in key metrics: coaching staff, travel budgets, and facility upgrades. MGSEA was a bipartisan effort; the article quotes Senator Jane Baker, co‑sponsor of the bill, as saying, “We’re not just closing a gap; we’re raising the bar for all athletes.”

Curtis notes that the Act was adopted with a 68‑10 vote in the state Senate and 145‑28 in the House. She cites the Massachusetts General Court’s 2025–26 budget proposal, which earmarks $5.3 million specifically for girls’ athletics—a 15 % increase from the previous fiscal year. By following the link to the General Court’s budget documents, readers can see how the funds are earmarked for “equity grants” to schools that demonstrate a measurable disparity in girls’ program resources.

3. School‑Level Realities: A Data‑Driven Lens

Curtis presents a striking visual—an infographic comparing the per‑student spending on girls’ vs. boys’ athletics across 20 flagship districts. The picture is sobering: in Boston Public Schools, for example, boys’ teams receive an average of $320 per student annually, whereas girls’ teams get $285—an 11 % shortfall. The article also spotlights the “Athletic Equity Scorecard,” a tool introduced by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) to rate schools on a scale from 1 to 10 based on equity metrics.

Through a series of case studies, Curtis shows how some schools are using the Scorecard to drive change. At Worcester Technical High School, the girls’ soccer program secured an additional $18,000 in travel funds after citing their scorecard rating. Conversely, a few rural schools—like Adams High School—remain stuck at a 2‑point rating, citing budget constraints and low enrollment numbers.

The article also references a 2024 survey conducted by the MIAA that found 37 % of girls’ coaches reported “inadequate equipment” as a barrier to competitive success. Curtis connects this to the MIAA’s own “Equity in Coaching” initiative, which offers grants for hiring female coaches and provides training modules on inclusive coaching practices.

4. The Human Side: Voices from the Field

Curtis enriches the data with interviews that give the article an emotional core. She quotes Maya, a senior midfielder at Roxbury High School, who says, “When we’re talking about travel, there’s a difference in the amount of support. Some of us are actually missing out on games because we can’t afford the bus.” Maya’s story is paired with a photo of a packed gym during a championship match, underscoring the tangible impact of funding disparities.

She also features Coach Daniel Reyes from Lowell, who, despite being a male coach, championed girls’ soccer after seeing the inequities. “I realized we had the same talent, but we had the same resources for boys and none for girls. That’s a clear sign of bias,” Reyes states. The article shows how Coach Reyes leveraged the MIAA’s Equity Grants to hire a dedicated assistant coach for the girls’ team, a move that boosted the team’s performance by a remarkable 18 % in the last season.

5. Looking Ahead: Policy, Practice, and Progress

Curtis ends by painting a hopeful but realistic picture of the future. The MGSEA’s first year of implementation is already showing measurable improvements: an average 7 % rise in girls’ team participation rates across the state. However, she cautions that the “equity gap” persists in certain high‑profile sports like basketball and field hockey, where girls’ teams still receive less equipment per athlete.

The article points readers toward the Massachusetts High School Athletic Association’s upcoming “Equity in Athletics Summit,” scheduled for February 2026. The summit will bring together state officials, school administrators, coaches, and athletes to discuss scaling equity initiatives and closing remaining gaps.

6. Key Takeaways

7. Where to Learn More

Curtis includes a handful of hyperlinks for readers who want deeper dives:

1. Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education – Title IX Guidance – https://www.doe.mass.gov/title9/
2. General Court 2025–26 Budget – Equity Grants – https://www.mass.gov/doc/2025-26-budget
3. Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association – Equity Scorecard – https://www.miaa.com/scorecard
4. Equity in Athletics Summit – Registration – https://www.miaa.com/2026-summit

These links provide the original data tables, legal text, and resources that Curtis uses to substantiate her arguments. By consulting them, readers can see firsthand how policy translates into dollars and decisions that affect student‑athletes across the Commonwealth.

In Closing

Amy Curtis’ article is an invaluable snapshot of the evolving landscape of girls’ sports in Massachusetts. It showcases legislative victories, quantifiable progress, and, importantly, the stories of athletes and coaches who live the inequities day to day. The article reminds us that while laws like Title IX and MGSEA set the stage, the ongoing task is to monitor, measure, and adapt—ensuring that every girl, regardless of geography or socioeconomic status, has equal opportunity to compete, excel, and thrive.