Bellingham Public Schools will provide equal educational opportunity and treatment for all students in all aspects of the academic and activities program without discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, honorably-discharged veteran or military status, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, marital status, the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal by a person with a disability. 聽The district will provide equal access to school facilities to the Boy Scouts of America and all other designated youth groups listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society. 聽District programs will be free from sexual harassment.聽Auxiliary aids and services will be provided to individuals with disabilities when needed for effective communication.
Conduct that is based on one of the categories listed above that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive as to limit or deny a student鈥檚 ability to participate in or benefit from the district鈥檚 course offerings, educational programming, or any activity will not be tolerated.聽 When a district employee knows, or reasonably should know, that such discriminatory harassment is occurring or has occurred, the district will take prompt and effective steps reasonably calculated to end the harassment, prevent its recurrence and remedy its effects.
The superintendent will designate a staff member to serve as the compliance officer for this policy. The compliance officer will be responsible for investigating any discrimination complaints communicated to the district.
The district鈥檚 nondiscrimination statement will be included in all written announcements, notices, recruitment materials, employment applications, and other publications made available to all students, parents, or employees.聽 The statement will include: 1) notice that the district will not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of any of the above-listed categories; 2) the name and contact information of the district鈥檚 compliance officer designated to ensure compliance with this policy; and 3) the names and contact information of the district鈥檚 Section 504 and Title IX compliance officers.
The district will annually publish notice reasonably calculated to inform students, students鈥 parents/guardians (in a language that they can understand, which may require language assistance), and employees of the district鈥檚 discrimination complaint procedure.
The district will provide training to administrators and certificated and classroom personnel regarding their responsibilities under this policy and to raise awareness of and eliminate bias and discrimination based on the protected classes聽identified in this policy.
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