AC- NON-DISCRIMINATION, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT and DISTRICT ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PLAN
A. Prohibition Against Discrimination of Students in Educational Programs and Activities.
Under New Hampshire law and Board policy, no person shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in the District’s public schools because of their age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, or national origin. Discrimination, including harassment, against any student in the District’s education programs on the basis of any of the above classes, or a student’s creed, is prohibited. Finally, there shall be no denial to any person of the benefits of educational programs or activities on the basis of any of the above classes, or economic status.
Harassment of students other than on the basis of any of the classes or categories listed above is prohibited under Board policy JICK - Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention.
B. Equal Opportunity of Employment and Prohibition Against Discrimination in Employment.
The School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The District ensures equal employment opportunities without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. The District will employ individuals who meet the physical and mental requirements, and who have the education, training, and experience established as necessary for the performance of the job as specified in the pertinent job description(s).
Discrimination against, and harassment of, school employees because of age, sex, race, creed, religion, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or gender identity are prohibited. Additionally, the District will not discriminate against any employee who is a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, or stalking.
C. Policy Application.
This Policy is applicable to all persons employed or served by the District. It applies to all sites and activities the District supervises, controls, or where it has jurisdiction under the law, including where it (a) occurs on, or is delivered to, school property or a school-sponsored activity or event on or off school property; or (b) occurs off of school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity or event, if the conduct interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operations of the school or school-sponsored activity or event, as set forth in Board policy JICK - Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention. Examples of sites and activities include: all District buildings and grounds, school buses and other vehicles, field trips, and athletic competitions.
D. District Anti-Discrimination Plan
The Superintendent shall develop and provide to the Board for approval, a coordinated written District Anti-Discrimination Plan (the “Plan”) to include guidelines, protocols and procedures intended to prevent, assess the presence of, intervene in, and respond to incidents of discrimination (See AC-R).
The Plan will include provisions, and recommendations with respect to resources, policies, complaint procedures, student education programs, Plan dissemination and training appropriate to carrying out the Plan objectives stated in the preceding paragraph.
In developing the Plan, the Superintendent is encouraged to seek input from appropriate groups of the school and local community and coordinate with the District’s Human Rights Officer and Title IX and 504 Coordinators.
No less than once every two years (off years from review of the District’s Suicide Prevention Plan per Policy JLDBB) the Superintendent shall update the District Anti-Discrimination Plan, and present the same to the Board for review. Such Plan updates should be submitted to the Board in time for appropriate budget consideration.
E. Human Rights, Title IX, 504 Officers
The Superintendent shall assure that District and or building personnel are assigned to the positions listed below. Each year, the Superintendent or designee shall prepare and publically disseminate an updated list of the person or persons acting in those positions, along with their District contact information, including telephone number, email, postal and physical addresses.
- Human Rights Officer
- Title IX Coordinator
- 504 Coordinator
The update will also include current contact for relevant state and federal agencies including:
- U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of Civil Rights
- N.H. Human Rights Commission
- N.H. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Unit
- N.H. Department of Education, Commissioner of Education
F. Complaint and Reporting Procedures
Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against, harassed, or bullied in violation of this policy by any student, employee, or other person under the supervision and control of the school system, or any third person who knows or suspects conduct that may constitute discrimination, harassment, or bullying, should contact the District Human Rights Officer, or otherwise as provided in the policies referenced below under this same heading.
Any employee who has witnessed, or who has reliable information that another person may have been subjected to discrimination, harassment, or bullying in violation of this policy has a duty to report such conduct to his/her immediate supervisor, the District Human Rights Officer, or as provided in one of the policies or administrative procedures referenced below under this same heading. Additionally, employees who observe an incident of harassment or bullying are expected to intervene to stop the conduct in situations in which they have supervisory control over the perpetrator, and it is safe to do so. If an employee knows of an incident involving discrimination, harassment, or bullying, and the employee fails to report the conduct or take proper action, or knowingly provides false information in regard to the incident, the employee will be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including, dismissal.
Investigations and resolution of any complaints shall be according to the policies listed below and related administrative procedures or regulations. Complaints or reports regarding matters not covered in one or the other of those policies should be made to the District Human Rights Officer.
- Reports or complaints of Title VI or VII violations, inclusive of discriminatory practices and employment practices restricting equal opportunity for employment or relating to race, color, or national origin by employees or third party contractors, should be made to the Human Rights Officer.
- Reports or complaints of Title IX violations, inclusive of sexual harassment or sexual violence by employees or third party contractors, should be made under Board policy ACAB; and ACAB-R
- Reports or complaints of Title IX violations, inclusive of sexual harassment or sexual violence by students, should be made under Board policy ACAA; and ACAA-R
- Reports or complaints of discrimination on the basis of disability should be made under Board policy ACE, except for complaints regarding facilities accessibility by disabled non-students or employees, which should be made under Board policy KED; and
- Reports or complaints of bullying or other harassment of pupils should be made under Board policy JICK.
G. Alternative Complaint Procedures and Legal Remedies.
At any time, whether or not an individual files a complaint or report under this Policy, an individual may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”), of the United States Department of Education, or with the New Hampshire Commissioner for Human Rights.
- Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor, Boston, MA 02109-3921; Telephone number: (617) 289-0111; Fax number: (617) 289-0150; Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov
Note: Complaints to OCR must be filed in writing no later than 180 days after the alleged act(s) of discrimination. OCR may waive its 180 day time limit based on OCR policies and procedures.
- New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, 2 Industrial Park Drive, Concord, NH 03301; Telephone number: (603) 271-2767; Email: humanrights@nh.gov
Notwithstanding any other remedy, any person may contact the police or pursue a criminal prosecution under state or federal criminal law.
H. Retaliation Prohibited
No reprisals or retaliation of any kind will be taken by the Board or by any District employee against the complainant or other individual on account of his or her filing a complaint or report or participating in an investigation of a complaint or report filed and decided pursuant to this policy, unless that person knew the complaint or report was false or knowingly provided false information.
I. Administrative Procedures and Regulations
The Superintendent shall develop such other procedures and regulations as are necessary and appropriate to implement this Policy.
J. Food and Nutrition Service Instructions 113-1, USDA Non-Discrimination Statement
The Superintendent will provide notice of compliance with federal and state civil rights laws to all applicants for employment, employees, students, parents, and other interested persons, as appropriate.
In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency
(State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.
To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form.
To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:
- Mail:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;
- Fax:
(202) 690-7442; or
- Email:
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
See Also: AC-R - Non-Discrimination Plan
Legal References:
NH SB263
RSA 186:11, XXXIII, Discrimination
RSA 193:38, Discrimination in Public Schools
RSA 193-F, Student Safety and Violence Protection Act
RSA 275:71, Prohibited Conduct by Employer
RSA 354-A, State Commission for Human Rights
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, 29 U.S.C. 621, et seq.
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. 705 and 794
Title II of The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 12101, et seq.
Title IV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000c
Title VII of The Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. 2000d, et seq
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C 1681, et seq
NH Dept of Ed. Rule 303.01 (i), School Board Substantive Duties
Legal References Disclaimer: These references are not intended to be considered part of this policy, nor should they be taken as a comprehensive statement of the legal basis for the Board to enact this policy, nor as a complete recitation of related legal authority. Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
First Reading: 01/16/2020
Second Reading: 02/20/2020
Adopted: 02/20/2020