Discrimination
Unfortunately, students continue to face discrimination in school. If the discrimination is based on certain protected characteristics such as race, gender, disability, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation, it is a civil rights violation. Students may face discrimination by teachers, administrators, or other students. I can help you to assert your rights, navigate the confusing and emotional process, and seek remedies to address civil rights violations.
Title VI
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in schools that receive federal funding. This includes antisemitism and Islamophobia. Due to the alarming rise in reports of antisemitic, Islamophobic, and other hate-based or bias-based incidents at schools and on college campuses since the October 7th Israel-Hamas conflict, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a new Dear Colleague Letter reminding schools of their legal obligations under Title VI to provide all students, including students who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, or Palestinian, a school environment free from discrimination based on race, color, or national origin.
Title IX
Schools that receive federal funding cannot discriminate on the basis of sex, including sexual orientation and gender identity, under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Some key issue areas in which recipients have Title IX obligations are: recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment, which encompasses sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; treatment of LGBTQI+ students; and discipline. Every school must have and distribute a policy against sex discrimination, designate an employee to serve as a Title IX Coordinator, and make known procedures for students to file complaints of sex discrimination. Asserting protection under Title IX can be overwhelming, emotional, and confusing. I can help you to navigate the process and assert your rights.