No person may be denied admission to any public school in the district or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of the person's sex, race, color, national origin, ancestry, creed, religion, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation, handicap or physical, mental, emotional or learning disability. This policy also prohibits discrimination as defined by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (sex), Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, national origin), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (handicap) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (disability).
Students who have been identified as having a handicap or disability, under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act or the Americans with Disabilities Act, shall be provided with reasonable accommodations in educational services or programs. Students may be considered handicapped or disabled under this policy even if they are not covered under the district's special education policies and procedures.
The district shall also provide for the reasonable accommodation of a student's sincerely-held religious beliefs with regard to examinations and other academic requirements. Requests for accommodations shall be made in writing and approved by the building principal. Accommodations may include, but not necessarily be limited to, exclusion from participation in an activity, alternative assignments, released time from school to participate in religious activities and opportunities to make up work missed due to religious observances. Any accommodations granted under this policy shall be provided to students without prejudicial effect.
Questions concerning this policy may be referred to the district superintendent. Complaints regarding the interpretation or application of this policy shall be handled in accordance with established procedures.
Notice of this policy and its accompanying complaint procedures shall be published at the beginning of each school year and posted in each school building in the district. In addition, a student nondiscrimination statement shall be included on student and staff handbooks, course selection handbooks and other published materials distributed to the public describing school activities and opportunities and a copy of the district's complaint procedures shall be included in student and staff handbooks.
APPROVED IN PART: March 18, 1985
REVISED: February 19, 2001
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