The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 is a federal law that prohibits “prohibits discrimination on the basis of age in programs or activities receiving Federal financial assistance. The [Age Discrimination] Act permits federally assisted programs or activities, and recipients of Federal funds, to continue to use age distinctions and factors other than age that meet the requirements of the Act.” See 34 CFR §§110.1. With only a narrow exception for programs or activity receiving Federal financial assistance for employment under the Job Training Partnership Act (29 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.), the Age Discrimination Act does not cover employment. See 34 CFR §110.2.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination based on disability in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (the ADA) prohibits discrimination based on disability in public accommodations, including private institutions of higher education.

Title VI of the Civils Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Title VI is applicable to students, faculty, and staff. Title VII, also of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, bars employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. It provides in relevant part that 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. Sex discrimination includes sexual harassment, sexual assault and sexual violence. While it is often thought of as a law that applies to athletic programs, Title IX is broader than just athletics.