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CIVIL RIGHTS
 

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Reading Room
(eFOIA Index)

General
Race Discrimination/Title VI
Sex Discrimination/Title IX
Disability Discrimination/Section 504/ADA
OCR Policy/Federal Register
Public Statements and Testimony
Educational Research
Additional ED Resources

Documents posted in this reading room were published in the Federal Register or were otherwise made available to the public. Policy and legal interpretations announced in these materials may have been superceded or modified by federal court decisions or by later interpretations of the legal requirements involved. Placement of the document in the reading room does not reflect its importance relative to other OCR documents or to court decisions. The list of OCR documents currently available is not all-inclusive.

Pencil and Paper icon link to send email request for document EDPubs Logo, used to signify a direct link to an EDPubs order page Some documents are not currently available from this web page but may be requested where either of these icons appears. There is no charge for single copies. Please include your mail address in the request. Other OCR documents that are not currently posted on our web page may be requested using Department of Education Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) request procedures.

General

Publications - General

  • Achieving Diversity: Race-Neutral Alternatives In American Education  (2004) is a report that aims to provide educational institutions with a "toolbox" containing an array of workable race-neutral alternatives to achieving diversity in the American educational system. The report includes examples from K-12 schools, public and private colleges and universities, and public and private graduate and professional schools.
  • OCR Annual Report To Congress (2001-2002) is report anecdotally describes the human and education impact of OCR's compliance, enforcement, and technical assistance activities in our cases of alleged discrimination. The annual report for years 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 are also available online. The annual report for years 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 are available by mail order. Pencil and Paper icon link to send email request for document
  • Office for Civil Rights: Ensuring Equal Access To Quality Education. (Rev. July 2003). This pamphlet provides an overview of the legal responsibilities of the Office for Civil Rights and how they are carried out by resolving discrimination complaints, conducting compliance reviews, and providing technical assistance. There is also information on the impact of the civil rights laws in improving educational opportunities for students.
  • Impact of the Civil Rights Laws. (1999). This pamphlet describes the impact of the civil rights laws, and other efforts at the national, state, and local level, in bringing about improved educational opportunities for millions of students attending our elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities.
  • Notice of Non-Discrimination. (1999). This pamphlet describes the requirements for education agencies to issue notice of their commitment to operate programs in a manner free from discrimination, clarifies the information that recipients should include in non-discrimination notices, and provides a sample notice statement.

Federal Register Notices and Regulations - General

  • Guidelines for Vocational Education Programs. These guidelines explain the civil rights responsibilities of recipients of Federal funds offering or administering vocational education programs. These Guidelines were published by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Office for Civil Rights, at 44 Fed. Reg. 17162 (Mar. 21, 1979), and are codified at 34 CFR Part 100, Appendix B.

Documents - General

  • Joint DOJ/OCR Letter on Segregated Proms: " Dear Colleague" letter (September 20, 2004) addressing the issue of civil rights violations inherent in allocation of extracurricular awards or honors on the basis of race, or violations inherent in racially separate proms or dances.

  • Title VI and Title IX Discrimination: "Dear Colleague" letter (September 13, 2004) addressing the right of all students, including students of faith, to be free from discrimination in our schools and colleges under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, in cases where such discrimination may be commingled with religious discrimination.

  • Title IX Responsibilities: "Dear Colleague" letter (April 26, 2004) reminding chief state school officers and state and local education agencies that the Title IX regulations require recipients to designate a Title IX coordinator, adopt and disseminate a nondiscrimination policy, and put grievance procedures in place to address complaints of discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities.

  • First Amendment: "Dear Colleague" letter (July 28, 2003) reaffirming that OCR's regulations and policies do not require or prescribe speech, conduct or harassment codes that impair the exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment.

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Additional ED Resources


Discrimination Based on Race, Color or National Origin
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI)

Publications - Title VI

  • Education and Title VI. (1991). This pamphlet discusses Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which protects people from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.

Documents - Title VI

  • Race, Admissions and Financial Aid: U.S. Department of Education, Office of the General Counsel: Letter to College and University Counsels (7/30/1996). Subject: Consideration of race in making college and university admissions decisions and awarding financial aid, in light of the Hopwood v. Texas decision.
  • California Civil Rights Initiative, Proposition 209: U.S. Department of Education, Office of the Secretary: Dear Colleague Letter (03/19/1997). Subject: Effect of Proposition 209, California's ban on affirmative action, on the responsibilities of California's school districts and colleges under educational programs and civil rights laws administered by the Department of Education.

Federal Register Notices and Regulations - Title VI

  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Lead Agency Status for Elementary and Secondary Schools and Institutions. Announcement that pursuant to the Department of Education Organization Act, the Department of Education would now have lead agency status with regard to certain Title VI compliance responsibilities towards secondary schools and institutions of higher education that had been performed by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. This announcement was published by the Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights at 45 Fed. Reg. 54793 (Aug. 18, 1980)
  • Notice of final policy guidance. Nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs; Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The final policy guidance discusses the applicability of the statutes' and regulations' nondiscrimination requirement to student financial aid that is awarded, at least in part, on the basis of race or national origin. This guidance was originally published in the Federal Register, Vol. 59, No. 36 (Feb. 23, 1994).
  • Racial Harassment / OCR Investigative Guidance: Racial Incidents and Harassment Against Students at Educational Institutions; Investigative Guidance. Investigative guidance on the procedures and analysis that OCR staff will follow when investigating issues of racial incidents and harassment against student at educational institutions. This guidance was published in the Federal Register, Vol. 59, No. 47 (Mar. 10, 1994).
  • Regulations for Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Non-discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in education programs and activities receiving or benefiting from Federal financial assistance. These regulations were published by the Department of Education and codified at codified at 34 CFR Part 100, as amended, 65 Fed. Reg. 68050 (November 13, 2000).

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Additional ED Resources


Discrimination Based on Sex
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX)

Publications - Title IX

  • Equal Opportunity in Intercollegiate Athletics. (1991). This pamphlet summarizes Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs receiving Federal financial assistance from the Department. Athletics is considered an integral part of an institution's education program and is therefore covered by this law.
  • Sexual Harassment: It's Not Academic. (Code No. 16) (1997). This pamphlet addresses issues of sexual harassment of students by school employees and other students. It is intended for use by school administrators and other employees in understanding a school's obligations under Title IX, and by students and their parents in understanding student rights in this area. The pamphlet answers questions about sexual harassment, including how to file a complaint with OCR. It also provides information to be use in developing or evaluating an institution's sexual harassment grievance procedure.
  • Title IX and Sex Discrimination (Code No. 6). This pamphlet summarizes the requirements pertaining to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities which receive Federal financial assistance from the Department of Education. This pamphlet is also available in Spanish. Pencil and Paper icon link to send email request for document
  • Teenage Pregnancy and Parenthood Issues (under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972). (Code No.20) (1992. 14 pages). This pamphlet is for elementary and secondary school administrators, teachers, counselors, parents, and students. It describes school retention problems associated with teenage pregnancy and parenthood and requirements pertaining to these issues in the regulations implementing Title IX. Information is included on approaches and programs that schools have developed to address the educational needs of students who are pregnant or married, or have children. Pencil and Paper icon link to send email request for document
  • Title IX: 25 Years Of Progress. (1997). An overview of the impact of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs receiving Federal financial assistance. The brochure describes the impact of Title IX in improving educational opportunities for students during its 25 years in existence.

Documents - Title IX

  • Funding of Athletic Scholarships: U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR): Dear Colleague Letter (July 23, 1998) from Norma Cantú, Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. Subject: Investigation of complaints which allege discrimination in the awarding of athletic scholarships in intercollegiate athletics programs. Bowling Green State University Letter (July 23, 1998) from Dr. Mary Frances O'Shea, National Coordinator for Title IX Athletics to Bowling Green State University General Counsel. Subject: Clarification of the coverage of Title IX and its regulations as they apply to both academic and athletic programs; and the funding of athletic scholarships budgets for men's and women's intercollegiate athletics programs.
  • 1975 Memorandum to Chief State School Officers, LEA Superintendents, and PSE Presidents on Title IX obligations in athletics, including athletic scholarships; intercollegiate, club, and intramural programs. This memorandum provides guidance with respect to the major first year responsibilities of an educational institution to ensure equal opportunity in the operation of both its athletic activities and its athletic scholarship programs.

Federal Register Notices and Regulations - Title IX

  • Policy Interpretation - Title IX and Intercollegiate Athletics. Clarifies the obligations of recipients to provide equal opportunity in athletic programs, especially with respect to athletic financial assistance, equivalence in other athletic benefits and opportunities, and effective accommodation of students' interests and abilities. This policy interpretation was published by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare at 44 Fed. Reg. 71413 (Dec. 11, 1979).
  • Regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. These regulations concern non-discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities receiving or benefiting from Federal financial assistance. These regulations were published by the Department of Education and codified at 34 CFR Part 106, as amended, 65 Fed. Reg. 68050 (Nov. 13, 2000).

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Additional ED Resources


Discrimination Based On Disability
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and
Title II of The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II)

Publications - Section 504 and ADA/Title II

  • The Americans with Disabilities Act. (1991). This pamphlet, published by the Department of Justice (DOJ), contains a brief overview of the Americans with Disabilities Act and lists contact information.

Documents - Section 504 and ADA/Title II

Federal Register Notices and Regulations - Section 504 and ADA/Title II

  • Deaf Students Education Services; Notice of Policy Guidance. Provides additional guidance about part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) as they relate to the provision of appropriate education services to students who are deaf. This notiice was published by the Department of Education at 57 Fed. Reg. 49274 (Oct. 30, 1992).
  • Regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. These regulations concern non-discrimination on the basis of disability in education programs and activities receiving or benefiting from Federal financial assistance. Published by the Department of Education and codified as 34 CFR Part 104, as amended, 65 Fed. Reg. 68050 (Nov. 13, 2000).

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Additional ED Resources


OCR Policy Statements Printed In The Federal Register

  • Privacy Act Regulations. These final regulations under the Privacy Act permit the Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to exempt the "Complaint Files and Log" system of records from certain provisions under the Act. These regulations were published at 48 Fed. Reg. 38817 (Aug. 26, 1983).
  • Deaf Students Education Services; Notice of Policy Guidance. Provides additional guidance about part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) as they relate o the provision of appropriate education services to students who are deaf. This notiice was published by the Department of Education at 57 Fed. Reg. 49274 (Oct. 30, 1992).
  • Policy Interpretation - Title IX and Intercollegiate Athletics. Clarifies the obligations of recipients to provide equal opportunity in athletic programs, especially with respect to athletic financial assistance, equivalence in other athletic benefits and opportunities, and effective accommodation of students' interests and abilities. The policy interpretation wa published by the Department of Health, Education and Welfare at 44 Fed. Reg. 71413 (Dec. 11, 1979).

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Additional ED Resources


Public Statements and Testimony

Norma V. Cantú, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.Testimony before the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations of the House Education and the Workforce Committee. (June 22, 1999)

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Additional ED Resources


Educational Research

See OCR's Civil Rights Data pages

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Archived Documents

See Archives

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Additional U.S. Department of Education Resources

ED Pubs On-Line Ordering System
Database of ED Publications in ERIC
ED Legislation, Regulations, and Policy Guidance
National Center for Education Statistics Electronic Catalog
More information about ED Publications and Products

 

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