Title IX Compliance - Impact Charter School

Impact Charter School does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any of our educational programs or activities it operates. No individual shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity at Impact Charter School.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities in federally funded schools at all levels. If any part of a school district or college receives any Federal funds for any purpose, all of the operations of the district or college are covered by Title IX.

Title IX protects students, employees, applicants for admission and employment, and other persons from all forms of sex discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity. All students (as well as other persons) at recipient institutions are protected by Title IX—regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, part- or full-time status, disability, race, or national origin—in all aspects of a recipient's educational programs and activities.

As part of their obligations under Title IX, all recipients of Federal financial assistance must designate at least one employee to coordinate their efforts to comply with and carry out their responsibilities under Title IX and must notify all students and employees of the Title IX coordinator.

Impact Charter School Title IX Grievance Procedures

Title IX Coordinator: Dr. Kim Germany – [email protected]

Procedures

Any Community Member who believes that he/she has been subjected to discrimination prohibited by Title IX, or that the School has failed to meet its Title IX obligations, may bring the concern to the attention of the School Title IX Coordinator. While the School Title IX Coordinator welcomes an informal presentation of such allegations, and is available to address concerns through counseling, advice, and informal resolution, the School Title IX Coordinator is fully prepared to receive and address such allegations through formal grievance procedures.

The School Title IX Coordinator has the authority to investigate allegations of discrimination prohibited by Title IX even absent the filing of a formal grievance, or its subsequent withdrawal. In addition, the School Title IX Coordinator may proceed with investigating a formal or informal grievance even if a complainant specifically requests that the matter not be pursued. In such a circumstance, the School Title IX Coordinator will take all reasonable steps to investigate and respond to the matter in a manner which is informed by the complainant's articulated concerns.

In most circumstances, the School Title IX Coordinator will coordinate his/her activities with other School administrators.

Informal Resolution

In many instances, counseling, advice, or informal discussion may be useful in resolving concerns about allegations of discrimination prohibited by Title IX. Complainants who wish to resolve their concerns informally should bring them to the attention of the School Title IX Coordinator.

In working to resolve the matter, the School Title IX Coordinator ordinarily will interview the complainant and, as appropriate, others who may have knowledge of the facts underlying the grievance. At any point, including while the informal process is ongoing or afterward, the complainant may elect to end the informal process in favor of filing a formal grievance.

Grievance Procedures for Formal (i.e. Written) Grievances

Complainants who are considering bringing a formal grievance may at any time meet with the School Title IX Coordinator, who will discuss the matter and describe the formal grievance process. Alternatively, a complainant may choose to submit a written grievance to the School Title IX Coordinator.

A formal grievance process is initiated when a complainant submits a written statement alleging discrimination prohibited by Title IX to the School Title IX Coordinator. In the statement, the complainant is encouraged to request any relief sought from the School. Prompt submission of formal grievances is encouraged.
The School Title IX Coordinator will consider the written grievance, and may dismiss the grievance without further process or review if the School Title IX Coordinator determines that the grievance on its face is frivolous, not credible, clearly without merit, or outside the scope of these grievance procedures.
If the grievance is not dismissed, the School Title IX Coordinator will interview the individual who submitted the written statement. Depending on the circumstances, the School Title IX Coordinator also may interview others with relevant knowledge, review documentary materials, and take any other appropriate action to gather and consider information relevant to the grievance.
The School Title IX Coordinator will determine whether the complainant was excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination on the basis of sex under any School program or activity, using a preponderance of the evidence standard. The School Title IX Coordinator will consult with other School offices as necessary in reaching a decision regarding the written grievance. The School Title IX Coordinator will prepare a written report setting forth findings, conclusions, and actions to be taken, if any, and will determine with whom to share the report.
Following such review, the School's Title IX Coordinator will, as necessary, take appropriate action to ensure that the School comes into compliance with Title IX in a manner which is prompt and equitable to the complainant. For example, the School Title IX Coordinator may assure that appropriate changes to school events, academic programs or other conditions are implemented immediately. While the action taken by the Title IX Coordinator may impact third parties, such action is not intended to be punitive (or constitute disciplinary penalty) with respect to these third parties.
The decision of the School Title IX Coordinator is the final resolution of the grievance at the school level.

If the decision of School Title IX Coordinator does not resolve the issue, families may contact

a) The CEO, for questions pertaining to Section 504 and Title IX, at 3750 Harding St. Baker, LA 70714 or (225) 286-1443.

b) The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Telephone: 800-421-3481 FAX: 202-453-6012; TDD: 800-877-8339 Email: [email protected]
While the time it may take to investigate and resolve a Title IX grievance will depend on a variety of factors, including the nature and scope of the allegations, the School Title IX Coordinator will seek to resolve the grievance within 10 working days of receipt of the grievance. Throughout the process, the School Title IX Coordinator will, as appropriate, keep the participants informed of the status of the grievance process.

IMPACT CHARTER SCHOOL TITLE IX COMPLAINT FORM

Title IX and Non-Discrimination Notice

Impact Charter School is committed to providing an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, which includes gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence, as regulated by Title VII and Title IX, and to ensuring the accessibility of appropriate grievance procedures for addressing all complaints regarding all forms of sex discrimination and sexual harassment. Impact Charter School reserves the authority to independently deal with sex discrimination and sexual harassment whenever becoming aware of their existence, regardless of whether a complaint has been lodged in accordance with the grievance procedure set forth below.

Information and Assistance

Definition of Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (for Students):

Sex discrimination occurs when a person, because of his or her sex, is denied participation in or the benefits of any education program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.

Sexual harassment is conduct that: 1) is sexual in nature; 2) is unwelcome, and 3) denies or limits a student's ability to participate in or benefit from a school's educational program or activity. Sexual harassment can be verbal, nonverbal, or physical.

Definition of Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment (for Employees):

Sex discrimination occurs when a person who is qualified for a position at issue is subjected to an adverse employment action because of his or her sex.

Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature when: 1) submission to such conduct is made a term or condition of employment; 2) submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting the individual; or 3) the conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the employee's work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment.

Any individual, who believes he/she may have experienced any form of sex discrimination or sexual harassment, or who believes that he/she has observed such actions taking place, may receive information and assistance regarding the School's policies and reporting procedures from any of the following:

For questions pertaining to Title IX, contact the Human Resources Official, Dr. Kim Germany at [email protected] or (225) 286-1443.