NONDISCRIMINATION

The District Committee’s policy of nondiscrimination will extend to students, staff, the general public, and individuals with whom it does business; 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, including athletics and extracurricular activities of such public school on account of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, housing status, sexual orientation, limited English proficiency, or disability as defined and required by state and federal laws.  If someone has a complaint or feels that they have been discriminated against because of their race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, housing status, sexual orientation, limited English proficiency or disability, their complaint should be registered with the Title IX compliance officer.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATION

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the nondiscrimination policies: 

Mr. Aaron Polansky, Superintendent-Director

476 North Avenue Rochester, MA 02770

(508) 763-8011

Inquiries concerning the application of nondiscrimination policies may also be referred to the Regional Director, Office for Civil Rights, U. S. Department of Education, J.W. McCormack P.O.C.H., Room 222, Boston, MA 02109-4557.

TITLE IX – CHAPTER 622 Chapter 622 of the Massachusetts Acts of 1971, which has been incorporated into the Massachusetts General Laws as Chapter 71, Section 5, 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 at such public school on account of race, color, sex, homelessness, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression.” This law makes it clear that all aspects of public school education must be fully open and available to members of both sexes and minority groups. No school may exclude a child from any course, activity, service or resource available in that public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, homelessness, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression of such child. On June 24, 1975 the State Board of Education approved regulations for Chapter 622. These regulations address five (5) areas of school policy: school admission to courses of study, guidance course content and extracurricular and athletic activities. If you have any questions or concerns regarding Chapter 622 and how it affects your children, please do not hesitate to call the school. The address and telephone number are as follows:

Principal

Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School District

476 North Avenue Rochester, MA 02770

Telephone number: 763-8011 x-118

 Copies of the law and the regulations can be obtained from the Bureau of Equal Educational Opportunity, 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148.

SECTION 504 OF THE REHABILITATION ACT OF 1973 COORDINATOR: Special Services Coordinator (508) 763-8011 ext. 142. 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 education to each qualified handicapped person who is in the recipient’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the person’s handicap. (34 CFR 104.33)

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT OF 1990 COORDINATOR: Special Services Coordinator (508) 763-8011 ext. 142 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.” (34CFR 35.107(a))

TITLE I OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 COORDINATOR: Special Services Coordinator (508) 763-8011 ext. 142. Title I is designed to help disadvantaged children meet challenging content and student performance standards. Staff should know that special education students are not deemed ineligible for Title I services simply because they received special education services. Also, school districts must insure that Title I funds are not being misused (e.g. referring a limited English proficient student to a Title I program in order to meet the student’s language needs rather that providing and ESL program/class).

ELL – ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER COORDINATOR: Special Services Coordinator (508) 763-8011 ext. 142. School Districts have an obligation to identify, evaluate, provide services students with limited English. Parents must be given every opportunity to participate in school activities and translated documents must be made available. Home Language Surveys are requested of all new students.