DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 238
November 9, 2007
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K. Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
Technical
Assistance Training for Title IX Coordinators--Ensuring Equal Access to
Quality Education |
One requirement of Title IX of the Education
Amendments of 1972, the federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in
education for all institutions, is that every state and local education agency appoints
a Title IX designee responsible for the implementation of this law. The law also requires that designees receive
training to help meet their obligations.
Title IX includes student-on-student sexual harassment in schools as a
subject of discrimination complaints.
The Virginia Department of Education (VDOE),
with the assistance of the Mid-Atlantic Equity Center, the National Women’s Law
Center, and the attorney of the Virginia High School League, will offer two
informational forums for state and school divisions’ Title IX coordinators as
follows:
Wednesday,
December 12, 2007, at the
Thursday, December
13, 2007, at the
Richmond, Virginia,
(804) 226-4300
*Each
forum is accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Both forums will begin promptly at 9 a.m. and
conclude at 3:30 p.m. A limited number
of rooms are available at each facility at the state rate. However, attendees will be responsible for their
travel expenses. Please complete and
return the attached registration form (Attachment A) no later than December 6, 2007. Each Title IX coordinator is
encouraged to attend one of these forums.
Directions and hotel information are provided in Attachment B.
Title IX requires school divisions to have
well-published policies against discrimination, including sexual harassment,
and to have procedures for students and their families to resolve issues
concerning discrimination. The
informational forums will provide a brief overview of fundamental civil rights
issues and Title IX regulatory requirements.
Additionally, Title IX coordinators will receive guidance on grievance
procedure requirements and Title IX issues as they relate to school athletics.
We look forward to
working with Title IX coordinators to ensure compliance with the requirements
and equal access to quality education.
For more information, you may contact Dr. Sandra E. Ruffin, director of
federal program monitoring, at Sandra.Ruffin@doe.virginia.gov
or (804) 225-2768. You may also contact
Mrs. Bonnie B. English, civil rights monitoring specialist, at Bonnie.English@doe.virginia.gov
or (804) 225-2618.
BKCJr/SER/bbe
Attachments
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/suptsmemos/2007/inf238a.pdf
http://www.doe.virginia.gov/VDOE/suptsmemos/2007/inf238b.pdf