Civil Rights Title VI

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits race, national origin, and color discrimination in all programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

Regulations

Access Title VI’s implementing regulations (34 CFR Part 100) here.

Discriminatory Discipline

In January 2014, the United States Department of Education and United States Department of Justice published joint guidance on discriminatory discipline practices in public schools. The document provides an overview of racial disparities in discipline, explains the legal framework for discrimination investigations, provides examples of and remedies for discriminatory discipline practices, in addition to offering recommendations for school districts to “identify, avoid, and remedy” discriminatory discipline. Statistics suggest discriminatory discipline exist in Tennessee public schools, so the department of education strongly encourages district administrators review this document and proactively implement necessary changes within school districts.

Title VI Guidance

The United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights’ publishes guidance and resources on civil rights laws’ application in education on its website.

English Learners (ELs)

Districts must ensure equal access to public education to all students. Districts must not discourage student enrollment or participation based on parents’ “actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status.” (Read the May 2014 guidance document,FAQs on school enrollment procedures, and fact sheet issued by The U. S. Department of Justice and the U. S. Department of Education explaining common equal access concerns.)

The United States Department of Education and the Supreme Court of the United States agree that failure to provide ESL services to individuals who do not speak English constitutes unlawful discrimination under Title VI. To assist districts in complying with Title VI in this area, the Tennessee department of education has outlined Legal Obligations and Best Practices Pertaining to English Learners in the areas of registration, ESL programs, communication with limited English proficiency parents, and student discipline.

- - - - - -

“En los Estados Unidos, todos los niños tienen derecho a recibir una educación pública básica primaria y secundaria independientemente de su raza, color, nacionalidad de origen, ciudadanía, condición de inmigración real o percibida, o de la condición de sus padres o tutores. Los distritos escolares que prohíban o desanimen, o bien mantengan políticas cuyos efectos sean prohibir o desanimar que los niños se matriculen en escuelas debido a que ellos o sus padres o tutores no son ciudadanos estadounidenses o son indocumentados, podrían estar quebrantando la ley federal.”

Los departamentos de Justicia y Educación de los Estados Unidos han publicado los siguientes documentos que expliquen el derecho de todos a recibir una educación publica y que den ejemplos de politicas permisibles (en español): una letra de información básica,preguntas comunes y respuestas sobre los derechos de todos los niños a matricularse en la escuela, y una hoja informativa. Lea estos documentos, sepa sus derechos, y llame el departmento de educación de Tennessee si tiene preguntas o necesita ayuda (615) 741-2921.