When Middle School French teacher Kris Flom was in fourth grade, a landmark education measure passed through Congress. The measure, known as Title IX, required equality in school sports. Shortly afterwards, Flom began middle school at St. Paul Academy and Summit School and watched the sports department change around her.

In her freshman year, a girl’s soccer program appeared. In sophomore, swimming. Flom eventually participated in a total of five sports during high school, never seeing an off-season. In the process, Flom said, “I gained a lot of confidence. I realized things that I didn’t know I could do athletically.” She continued sports through college, and retains her passion for athletics in adult life as a way to make friends and keep healthy.

Title IX, authored by Representative Patsy Mink of Hawaii, was a portion of a routine education bill from 1972, the Higher Education Act. It led to a distinct increase in the number of female athletes in the United States and was lauded by feminist groups. This year, in its fortieth anniversary, athletes everywhere are remembering the turning point in American women’s sports.

Mike Brown, the Upper School’s Assistant Athletic Director, has worked at SPA since before Title IX was codified. At the time, he coached several sports.

The act was “long overdue,” Brown said. “Women were treated, athletically, as second-class citizens.” When the bill went into effect, the school created a board to ensure that equal opportunities were available to male and female athletes.

Today, SPA has slightly more female sports teams (15) than male (13). Members of the Athletic Department consult frequently to ensure gender equality in sports.

“Our budget is as equal as it can be,” Brown said. “If it’s $4,000 for boys’ soccer, it’s $4,000 for girls’ soccer.” He also watches that the program does not disadvantage boys’ sports. “We don’t rob Peter to pay Paul. If there’s something special I want to do… I meet with Coach [Bill] Ross and we work things out so that it’s equal.”

Today, the prevalence of women’s sports has been a boon for the student body and for women everywhere.

Freshman Cait Gibbons has seen this firsthand. She said her participation in swimming “teaches a lot about being part of a team and…work ethic.” She feels that her life has improved because of sports. “Swimming helps reduce stress,” Gibbons added, “which helps with school. When I go to swimming, it’s easy to get my homework done.”

Flom has noticed it as well. Her children Maren and Maddie have both become involved in scores of sports.

“Some of the best friends they have are through their sports, and they’re setting patterns through their life in terms of being physically active… My girls have gotten to travel to Sweden and Denmark to play soccer there.”

The nation has seen similar shifts since the early 1970’s. The year before the law passed,about one in 27 high school girls participated in sports, and in many places, the only girl’s sport was cheerleading. Now, more than one in three high school girls is part of one of a variety of sports, from soccer to basketball to golf.

The number of women in the Olympics, consistently going up, reached a record number this summer. The shift towards equality in sports is still moving, but today, like through the last four decades, its momentum is secure.