If you or anyone you know has experienced sexual assault or harassment, you may seek assistance through local law enforcement or the district Title IX coordinators. For Big Pine Unified School District Title IX Coordinator contact information, CLICK HERE.
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Big Pine Unified School District (BPUSD) is committed to providing and environment free from discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. As such, BPUSD prohibits any kind of unlawful discrimination or harassment, which includes gender based discrimination or harassment, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual harassment by a member of the school community.
Big Pine Unified School District knows that good citizenship and healthy sexual boundaries do not occur over night. Developmentally appropriate education around these issues is critical for all ages from kindergarten through senior year. Big Pine schools Comprehensive Sexual Health Education, HIV Prevention Education and Assessments Related to a Student’s Health Behaviors and Risks is covered in the Annual Notice to Parents/Guardian under Particular Education Issues.
Board Policy – Sexual Harassment BP/AR 5145.7 and BP/AR 4119.11
The Board is committed to the elimination of sexual harassment in the District schools and activities. Sexual harassment is strictly prohibited and shall not be tolerated. This includes sexual harassment of students or staff by other students, staff, Board members or third parties. The district takes seriously all complaints and takes prompt, effective action, including disciplinary action, upon finding of a Policy violation.
Board Policy – Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedure Policy AR 5145.7; AR 5145.71 and AR 4119.12
The Principal, Coordinator and Superintendent have the responsibility for investigations concerning sexual harassment. The investigator(s) shall be a neutral party having had no involvement in the complaint presented.
Board Policy – Bullying BP 5131.2
The Board is committed to providing a positive safe and productive learning and working environment. To this end, hazing, harassment, intimidation, menacing, bullying including cyber bullying is strictly prohibited and shall not be tolerated in the district.
Scope of Title IX
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces, among other statutes, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states that: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."
Educational programs and activities that receive ED funds must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. Some key issue areas in which recipients have Title IX obligations are: recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment. Also, a recipient may not retaliate against any person for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy, or made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title IX. For a recipient to retaliate in any way is considered a violation of Title IX. The ED Title IX regulations (Volume 34, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 106) provide additional information about the forms of discrimination prohibited by Title IX. - US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights "significant guidance document"
Education has long been recognized as the great equalizer in America. The U.S. Department of Education and its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) believe that providing all students with an educational environment free from discrimination is extremely important. The sexual harassment of students, including sexual violence, interferes with students' right to receive an education free from discrimination and, in the case of sexual violence, is a crime.