Dear colleague letter: Harassment and bullying

Related Content
Author
Institutional Author
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
Details
Resource Type
Guide
Acquisition Number
BE025580
Published Date
08-12-2015 3:55 PM
Published Year
2010
Number of Pages
10
Language(s)
Subscription Only
No
Abstract
This Dear Colleague Letter outlines the obligations of schools to prevent bullying and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or disability. The guidance draws a distinction between bullying and discriminatory harassment, and outlines the obligations of schools to address both forms of student misconduct appropriately. The guidance points to Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability. Schools have responsibilities under these statutes to prevent and address discrimination, sometimes beyond the requirements of their anti-bullying policies. The letter offers several concrete examples in which schools failed to respond to discriminatory student conduct appropriately, and guidance on what should have been done differently.
Topics
Office of Civil Rights
Immigrant Students
Federal Policy
English Learners with Special Needs
English Learners
English Learners
Civil Rights Legislation
Administration and Leadership