| |
Synopsis of Laws |
| |
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Coordinator: Dr. Thomas R. Raab (traab@hanoverschools.org; 781-878-5450) |
| |
Statute prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, color or national origin by recipients of federal financial assistance. This statute ensures that individuals are not excluded from participation in program or activities receiving federal funds (or the benefits of) on account of their membership in one of these protected categories (42 USC S2000d). This statute has been interpreted to prohibit the denial of equal access to education because of a language minority student’s limited proficiency in English. |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Coordinators: TBD |
| |
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 provides that no individual may be discriminated against on the basis of sex in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. Title IX requires that schools adopt and publish a policy against sex discrimination and have grievance procedures through which students can complain of alleged sex discrimination, including sexual harassment. State law requires Massachusetts employers to have a policy against sexual harassment. (M.G.L. Ch. 151B, S3A) |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Coordinator: Jane DeGrenier (jdegrenier@hanoverschools.org; 781-826-2631) |
| |
Section 504 provides that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall solely by reason of his/her disability, be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. The regulations implementing Section 504 require that public schools provide a free appropriate public education to each qualified handicapped person who is in the recipient’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature of severity of the person’s handicap. (34 CF104.33) |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
Coordinator: Joanne McDonough (jmcdonough@hanoverschools.org; 781-878-0786) |
| |
The regulations implementing the ADA provide that: “A public entity that employs 50 or more persons shall designate at least one employee to coordinate its efforts to comply with and carry out its responsibilities under this part, including any investigation of any complaint communicated to it alleging its noncompliance with this part or alleging any actions that would be prohibited by this part. The public entity must make available to all interested individuals the name, office address, and telephone number of the employee or employees designated pursuant to this paragraph.” (34 CFR 35.107(a))
Top of Page  |
| |
|
| |
Equal Education Opportunities Laws |
| |
Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974
Coordinator: Charles Egan (cegan@hanoverschools.org; 781-871-1122) |
| |
This federal statute prohibits states from denying equal educational opportunities to an individual based on certain protected classifications including national origin. It specifically prohibits denying equal educational opportunities by failing to take appropriate action to overcome language barriers that impede equal participation by its students in its instructional programs. (20 USC S1203 (f)) |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Massachusetts General Laws CH.76, S5 (also known as Chapter 622)
Coordinator: Risa Mancillas (rmancillas@hanoverschools.org; 781-878-7228) |
| |
This state law provides that “no person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.” |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
McKinney-Veneto Homeless Assisstance Act
Coordinator: Ellen Witter-Harrington (eharrington@hanoverschools.org; 781-878-0786) |
| |
McKinney-Veneto is the primary piece of federal legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelesness in U.S. public schools. The federal statute ensures that each child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth has equal access to the same free, appropriate public education, including a public preschool education, as provided to other children and youths. |
| |
|
| |
Special Education |
| |
Chapter 688 (transition planning)
Coordinator: Ellen Witter-Harrington (eharrington@hanoverschools.org; 781-878-0786) |
| |
School districts file a Chapter 688 referral for students with severe disabilities who will need continued services and supports after their eligibility for special education ceases. School districts must make Chapter 688 referrals at least 2 years before the student is expected to graduate from school or turn 22 years of age. This allows time to determine the student’s eligibility for adult services and for agencies to include the anticipated cost of services for the student in its budget request that it submits to the state legislature each year. |
| |
|
| |
Top of Page |
