• NONDISCRIMINATION STATEMENT

    Discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, disability, age, or genetic information (including family medical history) is illegal and will not be tolerated in City Schools of Decatur (CSD). 

    • CSD will provide reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees who need them for medical or religious reasons, as required by law.
    • CSD students and employees will not be punished for reporting discrimination, participating in a discrimination investigation or lawsuit, or opposing discrimination.
    • To the greatest possible extent, CSD will protect the confidentiality of students and employees who report discrimination or participate in a discrimination investigation.
    • When reported, CSD will provide a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation of discrimination complaints.

    Please see below for more information about filing a discrimination complaint.

    REPORT AN INCIDENT

    City Schools of Decatur students, staff, and faculty who have experienced or witnessed an incident of bias, discrimination, or harassment are encouraged to report it to the Equity Department in the Office of the Associate Superintendent.

    FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE

    The reporting forms listed below are for non-emergency incidents only; they are not monitored in real time. If you are experiencing an emergency situation, call 911.

    TO REPORT AN INCIDENT OF BIAS, DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, OR SEXUAL VIOLENCE

    If you have experienced or witnessed an act or pattern of behavior that you believe to be based on bias, discrimination, harassment, or sexual violence, you may use one of the six links in red below to document the incident and/or receive outreach about possible next steps. Submission of a reporting form does not constitute a formal complaint, but rather, provides preliminary information to CSD’s Equity Department in the Office of the Associate Superintendent. CSD takes information submitted through these forms seriously, will commonly respond within 24-48 hours, and will ensure the appropriate individuals receive your report.

    UNDERSTANDING THE CATEGORIES OF INCIDENTS

    DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT

    Discrimination is the unequal treatment of any person based on their race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected class.

    Harassment is a form of discrimination that includes conduct that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to create a working, educational, or living environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, abusive, or offensive.

    Below are some examples of conduct that may constitute discrimination or harassment:

    • Offensive jokes or slurs based on someone’s race, color, disability or another characteristic of their identity as a member of a protected class. 
    • Ridiculing someone or showing offensive objects or images, based on their religion or citizenship/residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity. 
    • Denying someone employment or a promotion based on age.
    • Punishing or taking negative action against someone in response to their report of discrimination or harassment.

    Isolated incidents or comments (unless extremely serious) will generally not rise to the level of harassment under CSD’S Board Policy GAEB, IDFA, JAAR1&2, JCAC, or JCAC R(1). The conduct must be based upon an individual’s protected class and be sufficiently severe or pervasive to create a working/educational/living environment that a reasonable person would consider intimidating, hostile, abusive, or offensive. Such behavior will not be tolerated.

    TITLE IX

    CSD prohibits discrimination based on sex, including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity. This includes sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation, in addition to sexual exploitation and the provision of alcohol and/or other drugs for purposes of prohibited conduct.

    Incidents falling under Title VI and Title IX are addressed by the Equity Department in the Office of the Associate Superintendent.

    Title IX includes sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation, in addition to sexual exploitation (grooming), and the provision of alcohol and/or other drugs for purposes of prohibited conduct. It ensures equal access to athletic programs and it also prohibits discrimination based on sex, including pregnancy, and actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity.

    Below are some examples of conduct that may constitute gender discrimination or sexual violence:

    • Sexual acts without consent, including when someone is incapable of giving consent.
    • Humiliating or degrading comments or conduct of a sexual nature.
    • Conditioning the provision of a promotion on an individual's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct.
    • Failure to provide equal access to the school’s athletic programs including club, intramural, and intercollegiate teams. Title IX requires the equal treatment of female and male student-athletes in the provisions of: 
      • equipment and supplies
      • scheduling of games and practice times
      • travel and daily allowance/per diem
      • access to tutoring
      • coaching
      • locker rooms, practice, and competitive facilities
      • medical and training facilities and services
      • housing and dining facilities and services
      • publicity and promotions
      • support services and 
      • recruitment of student-athletes

    Submit a "Notice of Potential TITLE IX Incident" form here.

    To find more information on Title IX, click here.

    TITLE VI

    CSD prohibits discrimination against any person based on race, color, national origin or membership in a protected class under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Title VI prohibits discrimination against any person based on race, color, national origin, or membership in a protected class under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.

    Protected Classes include but are not limited to:

    Race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin – including actual or perceived shared ancestry, ethnic characteristics, or caste.

    Citizenship, or residency in a country with a dominant religion or distinct religious identity (including, but not limited to, individuals who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Buddhist, Israeli, Arab, or Palestinian, or who come from or are perceived to come from other regions of the world or are members of another religious group).

    Age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, including actual or perceived gender expression, or pregnancy status.

    Submit a TITLE VI Incident Report Here.

    To find more information on Title VI, or submit a formal Title VI complaint, click here.

    BIAS/EQUITY INCIDENT

    A bias/equity incident is any consciously, unconsciously, explicitly, or implicitly expressed act that targets individuals or groups based on perceived or actual identity. A bias incident can refer to single or ongoing instances of behavior, action, or practice that marginalize, demean, intimidate, or threaten individuals or groups based on an actual or perceived membership in a protected class.

    Not all incidents of bias violate CSD policy. However, they are out of congruence with our shared values of mutual respect, inclusion, and equity. The Bias/Equity Incident form enables CSD to connect community members who submit a report to resources and support, maintain records of bias incidents, and analyze trends to continually improve our District.

    Submit a Bias/Equity Incident Report Here.

    Can I submit a confidential bias/equity incident report?

    Yes, however, we encourage the inclusion of identifying information as it can help the District gain a complete understanding of alleged incidents.  We will make every effort to respect and protect your privacy. However, in certain circumstances, we cannot guarantee anonymity and may need to involve other parties in the District.

    Submit a Confidential Bias/Equity Incident Report Here.

    OTHER RELEVANT TITLES

    ADA/Section 504 CSD prohibits discrimination against and mandates equal treatment for individuals with disabilities, including providing reasonable accommodations related to disability.

    CSD prohibits discrimination based on disability in any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance, and it requires postsecondary institutions to have a grievance procedure allowing an appeal of any disability-related accommodations or issues.

    Below are some examples of conduct that may constitute disability discrimination:

    • Offensive comments or conduct about a person’s disability
    • Intrusive comments or questions about someone’s disability
    • Refusing to provide approved, reasonable accommodations at work or school

    If you have an ADA/Section 504 Complaint, contact Mr. Ben Knaebel, Coordinator of Section 504 and School Psychology at this link.

    Title VII CSD protects employees and job applicants from employment discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin. Sexual harassment is also prohibited under this law, as are all forms of harassment based on membership in a protected class.

    ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

    There are other options for students and stakeholders to lodge a complaint. See CSD’s Student and Community Complaints Process policy for more information.

    District employees may also lodge a complaint by emailing employeecomplaints@csdecatur.net or contacting Staff Support.