103. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM FOR SCHOOL AND CLASSROOM PRACTICES

1. Purpose

1.1 The Board declares it to be the policy of this District to provide an equal opportunity for all students to achieve their maximum potential through the programs offered in the schools regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, or handicap.

2. Authority

2.1 In order to achieve this purpose, the Board directs the Superintendent to assume the responsibility of coordinating all compliance activities of the School District.

3. Responsibility

3.1 It shall be the duty of the Superintendent to:
3.1.1 Review current and proposed curriculum guides and textbooks to detect any bias regarding race, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry, or culture; ascertaining whether instructional or supplemental materials fairly depict the contribution of both sexes and the various races, ethnic groups and the like towards the development of human society.

3.1.2 Develop an ongoing program of in-service education for school personnel designed to identify and solve problems of racial, sexual, sexual orientation, religious, national or cultural bias in all aspects of the school program.

3.1.3 Review current and proposed programs, activities and practices to ensure that all students have equal access thereto and are not segregated on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin in any duty, work, play, classroom or school practice except as may be permitted under State regulations.

3.1.4 Ensure that like aspects of the school program receive like support as to staff size and compensation, purchase and maintenance of facilities and equipment, access to such facilities and equipment and related matters.

3.1.5 Ensure that tests, procedures or guidance and counseling materials which are designed to evaluate student progress or rate aptitudes or analyze personality or in any manner establish or tend to establish a category by which a student may be judged are not differentiated or stereotyped on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, or national origin.

4. Implementation

4.1 It shall be the duty of all school administrators to ensure that:
4.1.1 All employees and students deal fairly and courteously with one another to ensure an educational environment free of intimidation and harassment. Ethnic, racist or sexist slurs or other personal derogation are offensive and unacceptable behavior. Sexual harassment is also a form of unlawful and unacceptable sex discrimination and includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.

4.1.2 Any employee or student who violates the policy against student harassment commits misconduct for which appropriate discipline may be imposed, up to and including termination for employees and expulsion for students.

4.1.3 Any student who believes he/she has been subjected to unlawful discrimination or harassment or that he/she is subject to a racially or sexually hostile environment should make a complaint to his/her principal or Cluster Leader. Students are encouraged to contact the General Counsel's office for information on making complaints under this policy.

5. Evaluation

5.1 The Superintendent shall report annually to the Board on progress made in the Affirmative Action program for school and classroom practices.

References:
State School Code: SS 3721 et seq., Act 504
PA. Code: (Title 22) S 5.21, 5.23, 5.24, 5.151
Board Resolution June 27, 1994
42 U.S.C.S. S 1983 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Federal Register, Volume 59, No. 47, pp 11448 et. seq.