Title VI

If you believe that you or your child have experienced discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, language, sex, religion, gender identity, and/or disability in CSD, you have the right to file a Formal Title VI Complaint. The purpose of the Title VI Grievance Procedure is to provide a prompt, fair, and impartial response to Formal Complaints made under any of the following CSD Board Policies: GAAA, GAEB, JAAR1&2, JCAC, or JCAC R(1) (“Title VI Policy”). Incidents falling under Title VI are addressed by the Equity Department in the Office of the Deputy Superintendent. 

You can report discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, language, sex, religion, and/or disability in CSD to any school staff member, any principal, or directly to the district’s Title VI Compliance Officer. Once a formal complaint has been submitted, you will receive confirmation from the Title VI Office within 24-48 business hours. (Complaints being filed by staff members should use this link.)

Programs that receive Federal funds cannot distinguish among individuals based on race, color, religion, ability, or national origin, either directly or indirectly, in the types, quantity, quality, or timeliness of program services, aids, or benefits they provide or how they provide them. The Title VI complaint procedure targets consciously, unconsciously, explicitly, or implicitly expressed acts that target individuals or groups based on perceived or actual membership in a protected class. 

Protected Classes include but are not limited to:

The U.S. Department of Education Title VI regulation (Code of Federal Regulations at 34 CFR 100) is enforced by the Department's Office for Civil Rights. Issue areas covered by Title VI include:

• Access to Equal Education Opportunities, 
• Discriminatory Discipline,  
• Equal Opportunities for English Learners, 
• Equal Rights to Public Education Regardless of Immigration/Citizenship Status, 
• Racial Discrimination in Special Education, 
• Bullying and Harassment, 
• Supporting Racial Diversity and 
• Retaliation.

More information regarding Title VI issues addressed by the OCR appears here or at the links above.

OCR interprets Title VI to mean that in order to establish a violation of the statute, Complainant must show that the unwelcome conduct based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics, based on the totality of circumstances, is subjectively and objectively offensive and is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the recipient’s education program or activity. Schools must take immediate and effective action to respond to harassment that creates a hostile environment. See OCR Dear Colleague Letter (Nov. 7,
2023).

To state a Title VI claim, the Complainant must establish discriminatory intent. Burton v. City of Belle Glade, 178 F.3d 1175, 1202 (llth Cir. 1999); see also Elston v. TalIedega Bd. Of Educ., 997 F.2d 1394, 1405 n.ll (llth Cir. 1993) (citing Alexander v, Choate, 469 U.S. 287, 293 (1985)) (recognizing that "Title VI itself provides no more protection than the equal protection clause—both provisions bar only intentional discrimination.").