Equal Educational Opportunity

5750 EQUAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY (M)

 

The Board of Education directs that all students enrolled in the schools of this district shall be afforded equal educational opportunities in strict accordance with law.  No student shall be denied access to or benefit from any educational program or activity or from a co-curricular or athletic activity on the basis of the student’s race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectational or sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, or disability.  The Board shall assure that all students are free from harassment, sexual or otherwise.

 

The Board directs the Superintendent to allocate faculty, administrators, support staff members, curriculum materials, and instructional equipment supplies among and between the schools and classes of this district in a manner that ensures equivalency of educational opportunity throughout this district.  The school district’s curricula in the following areas will eliminate discrimination, promote mutual acceptance and respect among students, and enable students to interact effectively with others, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectational or sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, or disability:

 

  1.                       School climate/learning environment;

 

  1.                       Courses of study, including Physical Education;

 

  1.                       Instructional materials and strategies;

 

  1.                       Library materials;

 

  1.                       Software and audio-visual materials;

 

  1.                       Guidance and counseling;

 

  1.                      Extra-curricular programs and activities;

 

  1.                      Testing and other assessments.

 

The school district’s curricula will include Multi-cultural Education content and practices, instruction on African-American History in the teaching of U.S. History and instruction on the Holocaust and other acts of genocide.

 

Affirmative action shall be taken to ensure that students are protected from the effects of discrimination, in accordance with Policy 2260.  Students who experience less than equal educational opportunities or experience discrimination shall use the procedure established by Regulation 5750 to report and appeal any harassment or discriminatory practice.

 

The conduct of teaching staff members shall exemplify the highest principles of equality and democracy.  Conduct and attitudes that display discrimination are contrary to the policies of this Board and, further, are destructive to the self esteem that this Board wishes to encourage in all students.  A teaching staff member’s act of derision or enmity, in any form, against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, marital status, affectational or sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, or disability shall be considered to be conduct unbecoming to a professional staff member of this district and shall be subject to appropriate discipline.

 

The Superintendent shall develop and promulgate a procedure by which a student or parent may appeal Board policy, district practice, or the act or omission of any district employee that allegedly violates this policy.

 

 

42 U.S.C.A. 12101

N.J.S.A. 10:5-1

N.J.S.A. 18A:4A-1, et seq.

N.J.S.A. 18A:6-5 et seq.; 18A:36-20

N.J.A.C. 6A:7-1.1 et seq.; 6A:14-1.2

 

Adopted:  26 July 2005

Revised:  29 September 2016