SCR 194

THE SENATE
S.C.R. NO.
194
THIRTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE, 2026
S.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII
SENATE CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
urging the department of education to meet the CRITERIA
necessary to officially recognize cheerleading as a title ix sport in hawaii.
���� WHEREAS,
Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972 requires educational
institutions to provide equal athletic opportunities for students regardless of
sex, and recognizes that emerging women's sports are a key mechanism for
fulfilling this mandate; and
���� WHEREAS,
competitive cheerleading has evolved into a highly athletic, team‑based,
and strategically complex activity that demands rigorous physical conditioning,
technical skill, and year‑round training comparable to
other varsity sports; and
���� WHEREAS,
participation in competitive cheerleading has grown substantially nationwide,
with thousands of high school and collegiate athletes engaging in organized
competitions governed by established rules, scoring systems, and safety
standards; and
���� WHEREAS,
numerous athletic associations, including the National Collegiate Acrobatics
& Tumbling Association and USA Cheer, have developed standardized
competition formats, certified coaching pathways, and recognized championship
structures that align with the criteria used to evaluate varsity sports; and
���� WHEREAS,
recognizing competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport would ensure that high
school cheer athletes receive equitable access to resources, such as certified
coaching, athletic training support, facilities, transportation, and safety
oversight consistent with other varsity sports; and
���� WHEREAS, recognizing
high school competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport in Hawaii would honor
the dedication, athleticism, and accomplishments of local cheer athletes while
advancing gender equity in school‑based athletics statewide; now,
therefore,
���� BE IT
RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii,
Regular Session of 2026, the House of Representatives concurring, that the
Department of Education is urged to meet the criteria to officially recognize
competitive cheerleading as a Title IX sport in Hawaii; and
���� BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to develop guidelines,
procedures, and safety standards to meet the criteria and classify competitive
cheer as an interscholastic sport that is consistent with the United States
Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights' definition of a sport under
Title IX of the federal Education Amendments of 1972, as amended; and
���� BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that the Department of Education is requested to work with the Hawaii
High School Athletic Association in developing guidelines, procedures, and
safety standards for competitive cheerleading; and
���� BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED that certified copies of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to
the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, and
Executive Director of the Hawaii High School Athletic Association.
Report Title:�
Competitive
Cheerleading; Title IX