Adopted:          08/16/1988     

Revised:           01/21/2008                                                                                          511 - Rule

School District of Prairie Farm

Nondiscrimination Policy

The Prairie Farm School District is committed to equal educational opportunity for all students in the district.

It is the policy of the Prairie Farm School District, pursuant to s.118.13, Wis. Stats., and PI 9, that no person, on the basis of sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability, be denied admission to school in this district or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational activities, or other programs.

This policy also prohibits discrimination under related federal statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color and national origin), Title IX (sexual discrimination), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (handicap).

It shall be the responsibility of the District Administrator to examine existing policies and develop new policies where needed to ensure that the Prairie Farm School District does not discriminate pursuant to federal and state law.  The District Administrator shall ensure that a procedure is developed to receive complaints filed under s.118.13, Wis. Stats., PI 9, Wis. Admin. Code, Title IX, of the education Amendments, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.  Assurances shall further include that evaluation of the District's compliance with s. 118.13, Wis. Stats. is done every five years under PI9, Wis. Admin. Code and submit Form PI-1197 to the Department of Public Instruction annually.

INFORMATION DISSEMINATION PROCEDURE

Title IX , Section 504 and s. 118.13, Wis. Stats., specify that school districts adopt and publish written complaint procedures for handling discrimination complaints.  Note that s. 118.13, Wis. Stats., applies only to allegations of discrimination against pupils, while Title IX and Section 504 apply to both pupils and staff and in some instances the general public.

Adopted complaint procedures must be disseminated to students, parents, employees, organizations, and others effectively inform them about the processing of grievances.  The information must be provided on a continuing basis through the distribution of written materials and/or through periodic briefings.  State regulations require that s. 118.13 complaint procedures be included in pupil and staff handbooks. 

In addition, written materials through which complaint procedures may be disseminated include:  newspaper, or newsletter articles, memoranda, bulletins, pamphlets, and course offering booklets.

Periodic briefings on complaint procedures can be done in regular student or staff meetings, special meetings or assemblies, classroom presentations, or seminars.

COMPLAINT PROCEDURE

The District encourages informal resolution of complaints under this policy.  If any person believes that the Prairie Farm School District has failed to follow the law or rules of s.118.13, Wis. Stats., or in some way discriminates against pupils on the bases listed above, he/she may bring or send a complaint to the administration office.

In the event that an informal resolution of a complaint cannot be reached, the following steps shall be the formal complaint procedure:

            Step 1:  A written statement of complaint shall be prepared by the complainant and signed.  The complaint shall be presented to the District Administrator and shall contain the following:

        1.         The name and address of the complainant and his/her title or status.

        2.         The date the complaint was filed.

        3.         The specific allegation made.

        4.         The corrective action requested by the complainan  The

Administrator shall send written acknowledgement of receipt of the complaint within 45 days.

            Step 2:  A written determination of the complaint shall be made by the Board within 90 days of the receipt of the complaint unless the parties agree to an extension of  time.  Complaints under 20 USC s. 1415 and ch. 115, Wis. Stats., relating to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of a free appropriate public education of a child with exceptional educational need shall be resolved through the procedures authorized in Ch. 115, subchapter V, Wis. Stats. Complaints under 20 USC s. 1231e-1 and 34 CFR ss. 76.780-76.782, Commonly referred to as EDGAR complaints, that the state or sub grantee is violating a federal statute or regulation that applies to a program shall be referred directly to the State Superintendent.

Step 3: If a complainant wishes to appeal a negative determination by the board, he/she has the right to appeal the decision to the State Superintendent within 30 days of the Board's decision.  In addition, the complainant may appeal directly to the State Superintendent if the B   oard has not provided a written acknowledgement within 45 days of receipt of the complaint or made a determination within 90 days of  receipt of the written complaint.  Appeals should be addressed to:  State Superintendent, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, 125 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7841, Madison, WI  53707.

Step 4: Discrimination complaints on some of the above bases may also be filed with the federal government at eh Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Education, 300 South Wacker Drive, 8th Floor, Chicago, Illinois 60606.

MAINTENANCE OF COMPLAINT RECORDS

The maintenance of complaint records is for the purpose of documenting compliance.  Records are to be kept for each complaint filed and should include:

            1.         The name, address, and title or status of the complainant.

            2.         The date the complaint was filed.

            3.         The specific allegation made.

            4.         Corrective action requested by the complainant.

            5.         The name and address of the respondents.

            6.         The levels of processing followed, and the recommendation, date, etc. at each                           level.

            7.         A summary of the facts and evidence presented by each party.

            8.         A determination of the facts, statement of final resolution, and the nature of                                 corrective or remedial action taken.

Legal Ref.:        Title VI, 34 CFR Section 100.4 (a, b, d) and 106.8 (a, b);

                        Title IX, 34 CFR Section 106.4 and 106.9;

                        Section 504, 34 CFR 504, Subpart 104.5, 104.7 (a, b) and 104.8