Equity, Title IX and Nondiscrimination

You have the following rights under Title IX, to the extent applicable at the District:

You have the right to fair and equitable treatment and you shall not be discriminated against based on your sex.
You have the right to be provided with an equitable opportunity to participate in all academic extracurricular activities.
You have the right to contact the State Department of Education to access information on sex/gender equity laws.
You have the right to file a confidential discrimination complaint with the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the California Department of Education if you believe you have been discriminated against or if you believe you have received unequal treatment on the basis of your sex.
You have the right to pursue civil remedies if you have been discriminated against.
You have the right to be protected against retaliation if you file a discrimination complaint.

(California Education Code § 221.8.) 

The District has a responsibility to respond promptly and effectively to sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence.  If the District knows or reasonably should know about sex discrimination, it must take action to eliminate the sex discrimination, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.  The District must resolve complaints of sex discrimination promptly and equitably.  Information on filing a complaint alleging sex-based discrimination is below, including contact information for the District’s Title IX Coordinator.

For more information specific to anti-discrimination in District employment, please contact the Title IX Coordinator.

 

How Title IX Complaints Are Investigated and Further Pursued

When the District receives a formal Title IX complaint, it will respond in accordance with its Title IX grievance procedures, which include the following steps:

• Notice: Upon receipt of a formal complaint, the District will provide written notice to both the complainant and respondent of the allegations, the grievance process, and the parties' rights.
• Investigation: A trained investigator will conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation. Both parties will have an equal opportunity to present evidence and witnesses. The investigation will gather all relevant evidence, both inculpatory and exculpatory.
• Review of Evidence: Prior to completion of the investigation report, both parties will have the opportunity to review and respond to the evidence gathered.
• Determination: A Decision Maker who is separate from the investigator and Title IX Coordinator will make a written determination of responsibility based on the preponderance of the evidence standard.
• Appeal: Both parties have the right to appeal the determination on the grounds of procedural irregularity, newly discovered evidence, or conflict of interest or bias by the Title IX Coordinator, investigator, or Decision Maker.
• Remedies: If a respondent is found responsible, the District will provide remedies designed to restore or preserve equal access to the District's educational programs and activities.

If you are not satisfied with the District's resolution of your Title IX complaint, you may file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the California Department of Education. See the complaint information below.

For the District's complete Title IX grievance procedures, see AR 5145.7 – Sexual Harassment.

 

Filing a Title IX Complaint

With the District

To file a formal Title IX complaint with the Edison Elementary School District, contact the Title IX Coordinator in writing. A formal complaint must be filed while the complainant is participating in or attempting to participate in the District's educational programs or activities, or by a parent or guardian on behalf of a minor.

 

With the Office for Civil Rights (OCR)

You may also file a Title IX complaint directly with the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR):

• Online complaint form: https://ocrcas.ed.gov/online-complaint
• Email: [email protected]
• Phone: (800) 421-3481
• Mail:
  U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
  400 Maryland Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC 20202-1100

 

Filing deadline: OCR complaints must generally be filed within 180 calendar days of the last act of discrimination. However, OCR may extend this deadline if you can show good cause for the delay, such as:

• You were not aware of the discriminatory act until after the deadline had passed
• You were pursuing a grievance through the institution and the process was not completed within the 180-day period
• Other circumstances prevented you from filing within the deadline

If you believe you have good cause for filing beyond the deadline, you should still submit your complaint to OCR and explain the reason for the delay. OCR will consider requests for extensions on a case-by-case basis.