2260 - NONDISCRIMINATION AND ACCESS TO EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

School Board of Charlotte County

Bylaws & Policies

2260 - NONDISCRIMINATION AND ACCESS TO EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY

The School Board declares it to be the policy of this District to provide an equal opportunity for all students, regardless of race, color, creed, disability, religion, gender, ancestry, age, national origin, genetic information, place of residence within the boundaries of the District, or social or economic background, to learn through the curriculum offered in this District.

In order to achieve the aforesaid goal, the Board directs the Superintendent to do the following:

	A.	Curriculum Content - review current and proposed courses of study and textbooks to detect any bias based upon race, color, gender, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, or culture; ascertaining whether or not supplemental materials, singly or taken as a whole, fairly depict the contribution of both genders, various races, ethnic groups, etc., toward the development of human society;
	B.	Staff Training - develop an ongoing program of inservice training for school personnel designed to identify and solve problems of color/racial, gender, religious, national, cultural, or other bias in all aspects of the program;
	C.	Student Access - review current and proposed programs, activities, facilities, and practices to ensure that all students have equal access thereto and are not segregated on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, disability, or national origin, in any duty, work, play, classroom, or school practice, except as permitted under state regulations;
	D.	District Support - ensure that like aspects of the District's program receive like support as to staff size and compensation, purchase and maintenance of facilities and equipment, access to such facilities and equipment, and related matters; and
	E.	Student Evaluation - ensure that tests, procedures, or guidance and counseling materials, which are designed to evaluate student progress, rate aptitudes, analyze personality, or in any manner establish or tend to establish a category by which a student may be judged, are not differentiated or stereotyped on the basis of race, color, creed, gender, or national origin.

The Superintendent shall appoint a Compliance Officer whose responsibility it will be to ensure that federal and state regulations are complied with and that any complaints are dealt with promptly in accordance with the law. S/He shall also ensure that proper notice of nondiscrimination for Title II, Title VI, and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendment Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Act is provided to students, their parents, staff members, and the general public.

A student many request an investigation of any procedure or practice in educational programs, admissions, services, activities, and disciplinary actions if there is a question of discrimination. The following steps shall be followed if a student feels that s/he has experienced discrimination at school:

	A.	Level I - If the student believes that s/he has been discriminated against or harassed, s/he may file a complaint in writing or via a message which can be transcribed into writing within sixty (60) days of the alleged occurrence with his/her principal or school counselor. If the complaint is against the principal or counselor, the complaint may be filed with the next highest level supervisor or with the Compliance Officer. The principal, school counselor, or Compliance Officer will schedule a conference. The conference must be held within ten (10) school days of the date of filing. The results of the meeting shall be sent to all concerned parties within ten (10) working/school days of the conference;
	B.	Level II - If a student is not satisfied with the resolution made at Level I, s/he may appeal in writing to the appropriate building level administrator, or with the next highest level supervisor, with copies to the Superintendent, for an informal conference and discussion of the grievance within ten (10) working/school days of receiving the Level I findings. The building administrator, supervisor, or the Compliance Officer will investigate and file a written report within ten (10) days after receiving Level I documents. These findings or recommendations shall be sent to the complainant, the Superintendent, and building administrator;
	C.	Level III - If a student is not satisfied with the resolution made at Level II, within ten (10) days of receiving the recommendations and findings, s/he may appeal to the building administrator, supervisor, or the Compliance Officer in writing, for an informal conference and discussion of the grievance. No new facts shall be entered that were not addressed in Levels I and II. The complainant shall be given an opportunity to present evidence relevant to the facts;
	D.	Level IV - If a student is not satisfied with the resolution made at Level III and the grievance was filed due to alleged discrimination, s/he may appeal, within fifteen (15) working/school days, to the Superintendent or his/her designee for an informal conference and discussion of the grievance. The decision at this level is binding, but does not preclude the complainant from pursuing other legal methods of redress.

F.S. 760.08, 760.021, 1000.05
F.A.C. 6A-19.001
Fourteenth Amendment, U.S. Constitution
20 U.S.C. Section 1681, Title IX of Education Amendment Act
20 U.S.C. Section 1701 et seq., Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974
29 U.S.C. Section 794, Rehabilitation Act of 1973
42 U.S.C. Section 2000 et seq., Civil Rights Act of 1964
42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq., The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
42 U.S.C. 6101 et seq.
34 C.F.R. Part 110 (7/27/93)
Vocational Education Program Guidelines for Eliminating Discrimination and Denial
of Services, Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights, March 1979
Title III of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001

Revised 10/21/08
Revised 12/13/11