File: AC - NONDISCRIMINATION File: AC - NONDISCRIMINATIONPublic schools have the responsibility to overcome, insofar as possible, any barriers that prevent children from achieving their potential. The public school system will do its part. This commitment to the community is affirmed by the following statements that the School Committee intends to:
1. Promote the rights and responsibilities of all individuals as set forth in the State and Federal Constitutions, pertinent legislation, and applicable judicial interpretations.
2. Encourage positive experiences in human values for children, youth and adults, all of whom have differing personal and family characteristics and who come from various socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups.
3. Work toward a more integrated society and to enlist the support of individuals as well as groups and agencies, both private and governmental, in such an effort.
4. Use all appropriate communications and action techniques to air and reduce the grievances of individuals and groups.
5. Carefully consider, in all the decisions made within the school system, the potential benefits or adverse consequences that those decisions might have on the human relations aspects of all segments of society.
6. Initiate a process of reviewing policies and practices of the school system in order to achieve to the greatest extent possible the objections of this statement.
The Committee's policy of non-discrimination will extend to students, staff, the general public, and individuals with whom it does business. No person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town or in obtaining the advantages, privileges, and courses of study of such public school on account of race*, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, age, religion, genetic information, active/military status, marital status, familial status, homelessness, ancestry, ethnic background, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition, or any other category protected by state or federal law in the administration of its educational and employment policies, or in its programs and activities. If someone has a complaint or feels that they have been discriminated against because of their race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability, pregnancy and pregnancy related condition, their complaint should be registered with the Title IX compliance officer.
Complaints of Harassment/Discrimination should be directed to the following:
Human Resources Manager
20 Irving Street
Worcester, MA 01609
*race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture, hair type, hair length and protective hairstyles.
LEGAL REFS: Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964
Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 Executive Order 11246, as amended by E.O. 11375
Equal Pay Act, as amended by the Education Amendments of 1972 Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972
Rehabilitation Act of 1973
Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975
No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, 20 U.S.C. § 7905 (The Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act)
M.G.L. 71B:l et seq. (Chapter 766 of the Acts of 1972)
M.G.L. 76:5
M.G.L. 76:16
Acts of 2022, Chapter 117
CROSS REF: ACE, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability
ACAB, Sexual Harassment
GBA, Equal Employment Opportunity
IJ, Instructional Materials
JB, Equal Educational Opportunities