Title IX

What is Title IX?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a comprehensive federal civil rights law that protects people from sex and gender discrimination in education programs, activities, and work place.

Title IX states:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Ferguson-Florissant School District is Committed to Providing an Environment Free From Discrimination on the Basis of Sex and Gender.
Ferguson-Florissant School District have two Title IX coordinators to manage the district's response to reports of gender inequity, discrimination, and sexual harassment against staff and/or students.  Faculty, staff, and administrators who receive complaints or have knowledge of discrimination based on sex, gender, and sexual harassment are obligated to report complaints to one of the Title IX coordinators.

TRAINING MATERIALS USED TO TRAIN TITLE IX PERSONNEL

• OCR requires that materials used to train "Title IX Personnel" on their duties under the new Title IX regulations be posted on the District's website by the effective date. "Title IX Personnel" are defined as the Title IX Coordinator, any investigator, any decision-maker, and any person who facilitates an informal resolution (such as mediation). OCR's website lists the following:
  Schools must ensure that Title IX personnel receive training as follows:
  • On Title IX’s definition of “sexual harassment”
  • On the scope of the school’s education program or activity
  • On how to conduct an investigation and grievance process
  • On how to serve impartially, including by avoiding prejudgment of the facts at issue
  • On how to avoid conflicts of interest and bias
  • Decision-makers must receive training on any technology to be used at a live hearing, and on issues of relevance of questions and evidence, including when questions and evidence about a complainant’s sexual predisposition or prior sexual behavior are not relevant
  • Investigators must receive training on issues of relevance to create an investigative report that fairly summarizes relevant evidence

Access the OCR website
Ferguson-Florissant School District’s Title IX Personnel have attended training furnished by Mickes O’Toole  in compliance with 34 C.F.R. § 105.45(b)(10)(i)(D). Materials from this training are available online.

COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
If an employee or student feels that they are being subjected to sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, or inappropriate sexual conduct, they may immediately inform the harasser that the conduct is unwelcome and needs to stop.

If the inappropriate conduct does not cease, or if the employee or student is unable to or uncomfortable with addressing the alleged harasser directly, they should report the incident to their own supervisor, to an administrator, or directly to human resources.  It is helpful to provide a written record of the date, time, nature of the incident(s), and the names of any witnesses.

It is important to report all concerns of sexual harassment, sexual discrimination, or inappropriate sexual conduct to human resources or a supervisor/administrator as soon as possible.  Management must be made aware of the situation to conduct an immediate and impartial investigation.  Management will then take appropriate action to remediate or prevent prohibited conduct from continuing.

For information regarding how to report or file a claim of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, see Board of Education Policy AC and Policy ACA.  Policy AC and ACA shall govern the grievance procedures, process, and response for complaints and concerns by parents, patrons, employees, or students of the District related to discrimination, harassment, or retaliation on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, disability, age, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Inquiries or concerns regarding civil rights compliance by school districts should be directed to the local school district’s Non-Discrimination and Title IX Coordinator. Inquiries and complaints may also be directed to the Kansas City Office, Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Education, 8930 Ward Parkway, Suite 2037, Kansas City, MO 64114; (816) 268-0550; TDD (877) 521-2172.