New Guidance from the Office for Civil Rights
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has released guidance to remind school districts, postsecondary institutions, and other Federal funding recipients of the legal prohibition against retaliation against persons who submit civil rights complaints and to describe OCR’s methods of enforcement regarding retaliation. The "Dear Colleague Letter" does not contain any new policy or new interpretations of law and is supported by well-established caselaw. However, this is an important area for clear and concise guidance as nearly one fifth of all complaints received by OCR raise retaliation allegations. Therefore, the Office for Civil Rights is now issuing public guidance describing its enforcement of recipients’ non-retaliation obligations.
Please read this important guidance at:
- http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201304.html
- http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/letters/colleague-201304.pdf
The Region IX Equity Assistance Center (EAC) at WestEd is one of ten Equity Assistance Centers funded by the U.S. Department of Education to provide technical assistance and training in civil rights, equity, and school reform. Our primary goal? To help ensure that all children have access to equitable education opportunities. The current network of Equity Assistance Centers will operate through 2014.
Key Areas of Work
The priorities of the Region IX Equity Assistance Center (EAC) at WestEd are clustered in three key areas of work:
- High-Quality Instruction
- Improving academic language development for English learners and other students
- Improving the distribution of high-quality teachers
- College and Career Readiness
- Improving opportunities for underserved students in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) courses
- Improving teachers' STEM content knowledge through professional development
- Safe and Supportive School Environment
- Using climate data for school improvement
- Improving community and family engagement
The Region IX Equity Assistance Center at WestEd is also charged with helping clients:
- Eliminate discrimination
- Reduce bullying, harassment, and violence
- Reduce disproportionality in special education
- Address other issues related to improving equity and access in public schools
Respond to Clients' Requests
We work closely with a variety of clients in Arizona, California, and Nevada at their request. We work with:
- Districts and schools
- Other local education agencies
- School boards
- State education and other government agencies
- Organizations serving families
- Community-based organizations
How We Can Help You describes the types of services that we offer and the strategies we employ to deliver those services to our clients.
For more information or to request assistance please contact:
Rose Owens West, Director
510.302.4246
Region9EAC@WestEd.org
Upcoming Webinar: All Students Who Live in the United States Have a Right to Public Education.
On Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 10:30 - 11:30 AM Pacific Time, Dr. Alejandra Rincón will present the webinar All Students Who Live in the United States Have a Right to Public Education.
Thirty-one years ago the Supreme Court ruled that state and local education agencies are required to provide all children equal access to public education at the elementary and secondary levels. In recognition of this important ruling known as Plyler vs. Doe, the Region IX Equity Assistance Center at WestEd is continuing its efforts to raise awareness and encourage all parents to enroll their children in school.
The education of undocumented students is guaranteed by the Plyler vs. Doe decision and certain procedures must be followed when registering immigrant children in school to avoid violation of their civil rights. Dr. Rincón will provide some history on Plyler vs. Doe, and share resources that are available to help districts reach parents and to help parents enroll their students in school.
Register for this webinar.
Alejandra Rincón, Ph.D., is a long-time advocate of the rights of undocumented students to have equal access to a college education. She is the author of a book entitled “Undocumented Immigrants and Higher Education: ¡Sí se puede!” This book chronicles the historic struggle of undocumented students and their supporters to gain equal access to higher education through in-state tuition laws.
Our work is guided by a set of principles that align with the mission of WestEd, our parent agency: Working with education and other communities to promote excellence, achieve equity, and improve learning for children, youth, and adults.
- Equity must be at the forefront of all improvement efforts to achieve education excellence and increase student academic, socio-emotional, and career technical attainment.
- Districts must have the courage to acknowledge inequities in the system and culture, and then spearhead efforts to correct them.
- Decisions that promote equity and excellence are driven by the availability and transparency of reliable, valid data.
- Equitable school environments are cultivated when students, families, and staff are respected, valued, and safe.
