If you believe that you or your child have experienced discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment/violence at school, you have the right to file a complaint. You can report discrimination and discriminatory harassment to any school staff member, the principal (who serves as the Title VI Liaison), or the district’s Title VI Compliance Officer listed below. 

Dr. Mari Ann Banks
Equity Director
125 Electric Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
TitleVI@csdecatur.net

• racial harassment
• school segregation,
• denial of language services to English learners.

Title VI Liaisons - School principals/their designees serve as local Title VI liaisons for each school. You can report discrimination based on race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, marital status, and/or disability to your school principal, any staff member, or to the district's Title VI Compliance Officer, listed in the contact section of this page.

How to File a Formal Title VI Complaint - Title VI Grievance Policies & Procedures

Before filing a formal complaint, you can seek an informal resolution by discussing your concerns with your child’s principal or with the school district’s Title VI Compliance Officer.

You may file a formal complaint through the procedures listed below.

Step 1: Your Complaint to the School District

In most cases, complaints must be filed within one year from the date of the incident or conduct that is the subject of the complaint. A complaint must be in writing. Make a copy of, then complete, the form at this link. 

Be sure to describe the conduct or incident and explain why you believe discrimination, discriminatory harassment, or sexual harassment has taken place. Be sure to sign your written complaint and send it, and, copies of any written material or other documents you believe will help CSD understand your complaint —by e-mail (if sending by e-mail scan the document so your signature is included), mail, or hand delivery—to the District Compliance Officer at the address below. 

Title VI: Compliance Officer

Dr. Mari Ann Banks
Equity Director
125 Electric Avenue
Decatur, GA 30030
TitleVI@csdecatur.net

Step 2: School District Investigates Your Complaint

Once the district receives your written complaint, the compliance officer will give you a review of the complaint procedures and make sure a prompt and thorough investigation takes place.

The complaint will be conducted in cooperation with the Human Resources Department if the alleged harasser is an employee. The investigation may include an interview with the charged party or parties, interviews with witnesses if any, and an examination of any relevant documents or artifacts. The district Title VI Coordinator will respond to you in writing within 30 school days.

If your complaint involves exceptional circumstances that demand a lengthier investigation, the district will notify you in writing to explain why a time extension is needed and the new date for their written response.

Step 3: School District Responds to Your Complaint

In its written response, the district will include a summary of the results of the investigation, instructions to appeal the determination (if needed), and a summary of any corrective measures the district has taken.  If you disagree with the compliance officer’s decision, you may appeal to the school superintendent. You must file a notice of appeal in writing to the superintendent within 10 school days of the date of the district’s response.

The superintendent will schedule an appeal meeting within 20 school days after receipt of your appeal. The superintendent will send you a written decision within 30 school days after the appeal meeting. If your appeal involves exceptional circumstances that demand a lengthier process, the superintendent will notify you in writing to explain why a time extension is needed and the new date for his written response.

Retaliation against an individual for filing a charge of discrimination, participating in an investigation, or opposing discriminatory practices is prohibited.

Title VI: Retaliation

Retaliation is defined as the following by Title IX:

• a strike back in response to another's action or accusation
• a form of revenge or reaction because of a complaint filed against a person
• refusal to promote, advance, or accurately support/qualify a person due to a complaint filed

• Examples that may constitute retaliation:
  • demotion or prohibiting advancement due to a filed complaint
  • firing, loss of benefits, or the like due to a filed complaint
  • unfair treatment or discrimination due to a filed complaint
  • Hostile Environment

Hostile Environment

A hostile environment is defined as the following by Title IX:

• a situation of discriminatory or sexual nature that has occurred and created an adverse setting
• an intimidating or offensive environment that causes a person to be fearful
• a setting that denies, limits, or interferes with a person's ability to participate in or benefit from a program, activity, or job

• Examples that may constitute a hostile environment:
  • bullying, abusive or intimidating comments and actions
  • intimidating or offensive comments that alter the conditions of a person's work, classroom, team, or program environment
  • continuous offensive comments or surroundings of a discriminatory or sexual nature

Title VI Coordinator 

Lillie Huddleston, PhD

Associate Superintendent

125 Electric Avenue

Decatur, GA 30030

TitleVI@csdecatur.net

404-371-3601, ext. 1026