521: STUDENT DISABILITY NONDISCRIMINATION
Adopted: 12/15/2014
REPLACES POLICY #6521
Revised: 10/18/21 / 01/24/22; 3/21/22; 10/21/24
I. PURPOSE
The purpose of this policy is to protect students with disabilities from discrimination on the basis of disability and to identify and evaluate learners who, within the intent of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), need services, accommodations, or programs in order that such learners may receive a free appropriate public education.
II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY
A. Students with disabilities who meet the criteria of Paragraph C. below are protected from discrimination on the basis of a disability.
B The responsibility of the school district is to identify and evaluate learners who, within the intent of Section 504, need services, accommodations, or programs in order that such learners may receive a free appropriate public education.
C. For this policy, a learner who is protected under Section 504 is one who:
1. has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more of such person’s major life activities; or
2. has a record of such an impairment; or
3. is regarded as having such an impairment.
4. has an impairment that is episodic or in remission and would materially limit a major life activity when active.
D. Learners may be protected from disability discrimination and be eligible for services, accommodations, or programs under the provisions of Section 504 even though they are not eligible for special education pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
III. COORDINATOR
Persons who have questions or comments should contact The Director of Special Education (651) 792-5000. This person is the school district’s Americans with Disabilities Act/Section 504 coordinator. Persons who wish to make a complaint regarding a disability discrimination matter may use the accompanying Student Disability Discrimination Grievance Report Form. The form should be given to the ADA/Section 504 coordinator.
IV. GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE
A. Any person who believes he or she has been the victim of unlawful discrimination or any person with knowledge or belief of conduct that may constitute unlawful discrimination shall report the alleged acts immediately to an appropriate school district official designated by this policy. The complaint must be filed within 90 calendar days of the alleged violation.
B. The Human Rights Officer is responsible for receiving oral or written complaints of unlawful discrimination toward an employee or student. However, nothing in this policy shall prevent any person from reporting unlawful discrimination toward an employee or student directly with the Human Rights Officer, the school board or other school district official.
C. The school board hereby designates Dan Melde, 4707 North Road, Circle Pines, MN, 763-792-6009, dmelde@isd12.org, as the school district Human Rights Officer(s) to receive reports, complaints, or grievances of unlawful discrimination. If the complaint involves a Human Rights Officer, the complaint shall be filed directly with [a different staff member, such as the superintendent or school board chair, designated by the school board].
D. Upon receipt of a complaint, the Human Rights Officer shall immediately notify the superintendent. If the superintendent is the subject of the complaint, the Human Rights Officer shall immediately notify the school board.
E. The Human Rights Officer may request but not insist upon a written complaint. Alternative means of filing a complaint, such as through a personal interview or by tape recording, shall be made available upon request for qualified persons with a disability. If the complaint is oral, it shall be reduced to writing within 24 hours and forwarded to the superintendent. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. The school district encourages the reporting party to complete the complaint form for written complaints. It is available from the principal of each building or the school district office.
F. The school district shall respect the privacy of the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and the witnesses, consistent with the school district’s legal obligations to investigate, take appropriate action, and comply with any discovery or disclosure obligations.
V. INVESTIGATION
A. The Human Rights Officer, upon receipt of a complaint alleging unlawful discrimination shall promptly undertake an investigation if deemed appropriate. The investigation may be conducted by the Title IX coordinator for complaints of sex discrimination or the Section 504 Coordinator for complaints of disability discrimination, or a school district official or neutral third party designated by the Title IX coordinator, Section 504 coordinator or Human Rights Officer. The investigation shall be completed within 30 days of the complaint, unless impracticable.
B. The investigation may consist of personal interviews with the complainant, the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed, and others who may have knowledge of the alleged incident(s) or circumstances giving rise to the complaint. The investigation may also consist of other methods deemed pertinent by the investigator.
C. In determining whether the alleged conduct constitutes a violation of this policy, the school district shall consider the facts and the surrounding circumstances such as the nature of the behavior, past incidents or continuing patterns of behavior, the relationships between the parties involved and the context in which the alleged incident occurred.
D. The school district may take immediate steps to protect the parties involved in the complaint process, pending completion of an investigation of alleged unlawful discrimination.
E. Upon completion of the investigation, the school district investigator shall make a written report to the Human Rights Officer. If the complaint involves the Human Rights Officer, the report may be filed directly with the superintendent or school board. The report shall include the facts, a determination of whether the allegations have been substantiated, whether a violation of this policy has occurred as well as a description of any proposed resolution which may include alternative dispute resolution.
F. The district shall comply with federal and state law pertaining to retention of records.
VI. APPEAL
If the grievance has not been resolved to the satisfaction of the complainant, s/he may appeal to the Human Rights Officer within ten (10) school days of receipt of the findings of the school district investigation. The school district investigator shall conduct a review of the appeal and within ten (10) school days of receipt of the appeal, shall affirm, reverse, or modify the findings of the report. The decision of the school district investigator is final but does not preclude pursuit of alternative complaint procedures noted in the section entitled “Right to Alternative Compliant Procedures.”
VII. SCHOOL DISTRICT ACTION
A. Upon conclusion of the investigation and receipt of the findings, the school district shall take appropriate action. If it is determined that a violation has occurred, such action may include, but is not limited to, warning, suspension, expulsion, transfer, remediation or termination.
B. School district action taken for violation of this policy shall be consistent with the requirements of applicable collective bargaining agreements, Minnesota and federal law and school district policies.
C. The result of the school district’s investigation of each complaint filed under these
procedures shall be reported in writing to the complainant by the school district in
accordance with state and federal law regarding data or records privacy.
VIII. RETALIATION
The school district shall take appropriate action against any student, teacher, administrator or other school personnel who retaliates against any person who reports alleged unlawful discrimination toward an employee or student or any person who testifies, assists or participates in an investigation or hearing relating to such unlawful discrimination. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation or harassment.
IX. CONFLICT OF INTEREST
If there is a conflict of interest with respect to any party affected by this policy, appropriate action shall be taken such as, but not limited to, appointing or contracting with a neutral third party investigator to conduct the investigation or recusal from the process by the person for whom a conflict or potential conflict of interest exists.
X. DISSEMINATION OF POLICY
The school district shall adopt and publish these procedures.
TITLE IX COORDINATOR
Dan Melde
4707 North Road
Circle Pines, MN 55014
763-792-6009
dmelde@isd12.org
SECTION 504 COORDINATOR
Kathy Zwonitzer
4707 North Road
Circle Pines, MN 55014
763-792-6040
kzwonitzer@isd12.org
XI. RIGHT TO ALTERNATIVE COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
These procedures do not deny the right of any individual to pursue other avenues of recourse, which may include filing charges with the agencies listed below or initiating action in state or federal court.
Claims of discrimination may also be pursued through the following agencies where appropriate:
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
John C. Kluczynski Federal Building
230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel: 312-730-1560
TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov
MN Department of Human Rights
540 Fairview Avenue N, Suite 201
St. Paul, MN 55104
800-657-3704
651-539-1100
MN Relay 711 or 800-627-3529
For complaints of employment discrimination:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
330 S. 2nd Avenue
Suite 720
Minneapolis, MN 55401
800-669-4000
612-552-7306
TTY 800-669-6820
This document provides general information and is not to be a substitute for legal advice. Changes in the law, including timelines for filing a complaint, may affect your rights.
Legal References:
34 C.F.R. Section 104.7(b) (Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act)
34 C.F.R. Section 106.8(b) (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972)
Resources:
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
John C. Kluczynski Federal Building
230 S. Dearborn Street, 37th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel: 312-730-1560
TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR.Chicago@ed.gov
Reading Room, U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights:
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/publications.html
Students with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education that includes general education, special education, and/or related aids and services.
Legal References:
Minn. Stat. § 363A.03, Subd. 12 (Definitions)
42 U.S.C. Ch. 126 (Equal Opportunity for Individuals with Disabilities)
29 U.S.C. § 794 et seq. (Rehabilitation Act of 1973, § 504)
34 C.F.R. Part 104 (Section 504 Implementing Regulations)
Cross References:
MSBA/MASA Model Policy 402 (Disability Nondiscrimination)