Equal Educational Opportunities
The DeKalb County School District (“DCSD”) is committed to promoting and impacting student academic and educational success, leading to extended levels of education, and training, resulting in continued life-long learning. The DCSD strives to provide a learning environment that is enriching, equitable, respectful of differences, as well as an environment that promotes successful academic and educational outcomes for students. The DCSD strives to formulate and integrate principles of equity, inclusion, and access into its policies, programs, operations, and practices.
The DCSD strives to treat all students equitably, regardless of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, age, socio-economic status, gender or sexual orientation including gender expression or identity, pregnancy status, marital status, physical appearance, geographic location, as well as the presence of any mental, sensory, or other physical disability.
The DCSD strives to provide all students with equitable access to high quality, unbiased, culturally relevant, and culturally sensitive curricula. Likewise, the DCSD strives to provide all students with equitable access to high quality modes of instruction, support, wrap-around services, facilities, and other educational resources.
The DCSD’s strategic plan serves as the basis for implementing, monitoring, and sustaining this equity policy. The DCSD will equitably use and distribute resources, within budgetary limitations, to meet student needs. The accountability measures may include, student academic achievement results, disciplinary rates, suspension rates, involvement in extra-curricular activities, involvement in AP and other higher-level academic courses, as well as graduation rates and other appropriate measures.
The Superintendent, his/her designee, and/or the appropriate staff are authorized to develop the processes and procedures that are necessary to implement this Equity Policy, including an action plan, with goals, timelines, clear and specific accountability measures, and metrics.
The Superintendent, his/her designee, and/or the appropriate staff shall maintain a complaint procedure that affords students a prompt, fair, and orderly means of resolving complaints of discrimination. Nothing in this policy is intended to create rights beyond those already created by federal and/or state law.
Legal References
- O.C.G.A. 20-01-0011 — Advocating for divisive concepts; prohibition on discrimination; practice of tolerance and mutual respect encouraged; complaint resolution policies; inspection of records; waivers prohibited (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0131 — Objectives and purposes of QBE program (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-02-0133 — Free public instruction; exceptions; eligibility; procedure and requirements when child in custody of or in a placement or facility of a state agency (Lexis)
- O.C.G.A. 20-03-0065 — No exclusion from University of Georgia for religious beliefs (Lexis)
- 18 USC 1513 — Retaliating against a witness, victim, or an informant
- 20 USC 1400 — Individuals with Disabilities Education Act-findings; purposes
- 20 USC 1401 — Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Definitions
- 20 USC 1412 — State eligibility-IDEA
- 20 USC 1681 — Title IX-Prohibition against discrimination based on sex
- 20 USC 1701 — Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974-Congressional declaration of policy
- 20 USC 1703 — Denial of equal educational opportunity prohibited
- 20 USC 6301 — Elementary and Secondary Education Act: Statement of Purpose
- 28 CFR 35.136 — Service animals
- 29 CFR 1691.5 — Agency processing of complaints of employment discrimination - ADA
- 29 USC 794 — Nondiscrimination under Federal grants and programs
- 29 USC 794a — Remedies and attorney fees-federal programs
- 34 CFR 100.7 — Title VI - Conduct of investigations
- 34 CFR 104.36 — Sec. 504: Procedural safeguards re: ID, evaluation, placement of persons with disabilities
- 34 CFR 104.37 — Sec. 504: Nonacademic Services
- 34 CFR 104.7 — Section 504 - Designation of responsible employee and adoption of grievance procedures
- 34 CFR 106.8 — Title IX - Designation of coordinator, dissemination of policy, and adoption of grievance procedures
- 42 USC 11431 — Education for Homeless Children and Youths
- 42 USC 12101 — Americans with Disabilities Act - Findings and purpose
- 42 USC 2000d — Civil Rights Act-Prohibition against discrimination in federally assisted programs on basis of race, color, or national origin
- 45 CFR 86.57 — Discrimination based upon marital or parental status prohibited