Taylor Wood, Professional School Counselor (9-12), acts as East Sac County Community School District's Equity Coordinator, Title IX Coordinator, and 504 Coordinator. You may contact her for questions or grievances at (712)655-5001 or twood@eastsac.k12.ia.us
See Policies and Procedures for each below.
What is Title VI of the Civil Rights Act?
Title VI, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq., was enacted as part of the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. It prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.
Nondiscrimination Policy - Board Approved Policy
The East Sac County Community School District does not discriminate in its educational programs, activities or employment practices on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, sexual orientation, age (for employment), and actual or potential parental, family or marital status. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have a grievance related to this policy or for information about the district's grievance procedures please contact Taylor Wood 801 Jackson St Lake View IA 51450, 712-665-5001, twood@eastsac.k12.ia.us.
What is Title IX?
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance. 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[.]
Title IX applies, with a few specific exceptions, to all aspects of federally funded education programs or activities, including all of the operations of educational institutions that receive Federal financial assistance, as well as any education or training programs operated by any other recipient of Federal financial assistance.
Examples of the types of discrimination that are covered under Title IX include but are not limited to: sex-based harassment; sexual violence; pregnancy discrimination; the failure to provide equal athletic opportunity; sex-based discrimination in a school’s science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses and programs; discriminatory application of dress code policies and/or enforcement; and retaliation.
Facts:
Schools that do not receive federal funding are not required to comply with Title IX.
Title IX is not a sports law and does not pertain only to sports.
Title IX protects all school students (male & female), faculty and staff.
Title IX Coordinators are required by law and are a school district’s primary resource for identifying sex discrimination, including sexual harassment.
Title IX does not require a school to offer the same number of teams for boys and girls and does not require a school to offer the same sports/activities for boys and girls.
Title IX does require a school to provide an equal opportunity for female and male students to become interscholastic participants (analyzed by means of the “Three-Prong Test”)
Title IX Policy - Board Approved Policy
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, the Community School District prohibits sex discrimination, including sexual harassment as defined by the regulations implementing Title IX (34 C.F.R. § 106.30), against any individual participating in any education program or activity of the District. This prohibition on discrimination applies to students, employees, and applicants for employment.
The Board authorizes the Superintendent to adopt procedures for any individual to report sexual harassment to the District’s Title IX Coordinator, for the provision of supportive measures to anyone who has been subjected to sexual harassment whether or not they proceed with a formal complaint under those procedures, and for the investigation and resolution of such complaints, as required by Title IX. This Title IX grievance process shall be used to respond to all complaints of sexual harassment that fall within the scope of Title IX. For complaints of sexual harassment that do not fall within the scope of Title IX, the District may still offer supportive measures to the subject of such conduct and shall apply any other policy or procedure applicable to the alleged conduct.
Any individual with questions about the District’s Title IX policy and procedures, or who would like to make a report or file a formal complaint of sex discrimination or sexual harassment may contact the District’s designated Title Coordinator, Taylor Wood 801 Jackson St Lake View IA 51450, 712-665-5001, twood@eastsac.k12.ia.us
Retaliation against a person who made a report or complaint of sexual harassment, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation or resolution of a sexual harassment report or complaint is strictly prohibited. Retaliation includes threats, coercion, discrimination, intimidation, reprisals, and/or adverse actions related to employment or education. Any individual who believed they have been retaliated against in violation of this Policy should immediately contact the District’s Title IX Coordinator.
What is Section 504?
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the law that prohibits schools from discriminating against students with disabilities. Section 504 sets minimum standards for providing related services and aids to students with disabilities that substantially limit a major life activity. All accredited Iowa schools must comply with Section 504. Section 504 applies to elementary and secondary education, preschool and adult education, and private education. s the law that prohibits schools from discriminating against students with disabilities. Section 504 sets minimum standards for providing related services and aids to students with disabilities that substantially limit a major life activity. All accredited Iowa schools must comply with Section 504. Section 504 applies to elementary and secondary education, preschool and adult education, and private education.
Section 504 Policy - Board Approved Policy & ESC Section 504 Handbook
The East Sac County Community School District does not discriminate in its educational programs and activities on the basis of a student's disability. It has been determined that your child has a qualifying disability for which accommodations may need to be made to meet his or her individual needs as adequately as the needs of other students. As a parent, you have the right to the following:
Participation of your child in school district programs and activities, including extracurricular programs and activities, to the maximum extent appropriate, free of discrimination based upon the student's disability and at the same level as students without disabilities;
Receipt of free educational services to the extent they are provided students without disabilities:
Receipt of information about your child and your child's educational programs and activities in your native language;
Notice of identification of your child as having a qualifying disability for which accommodations may need to be made and notice prior to evaluation and placement of your child and right to periodically request a re-evaluation of your child;
Inspect and review your child's educational records including a right to copy those records for a reasonable fee; you also have a right to ask the school district to amend your child's educational records if you feel the information in the records is misleading or inaccurate; should the school district refuse to amend the records, you have a right to a hearing and to place an explanatory letter in your child's file explaining why you feel the records are misleading or inaccurate; and
Hearing before an impartial hearing officer if you disagree with your child's evaluation or placement; you have a right to counsel at the hearing and have the decision of the impartial hearing officer reviewed.
Grievance Procedure
East Sac County Community School District will follow grievance procedures provided by the state guidance for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints of discrimination. General procedure: Receive, resolve, and/or report to higher authorities complaints from parents, students, and employees to ensure that concerns are handled promptly and effectively. ESC Board Policy.
Grievances can be directed to the district's Title IX Coordinator, Taylor Wood, who serves as the 9-12 School Counselor. She can be reached at 801 Jackson St Lake View IA 51450, 712-665-5000, twood@eastsac.k12.ia.us.