CODE: 6121
SECTION: INSTRUCTION
NONDISCRIMINATION/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM
No pupil enrolled in the West Milford Township schools shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any educational program or activity of this district on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, place of residence in the district, social or economic condition, or nonapplicable disability. The affirmative action officer shall be responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring an affirmative action program with respect to school and classroom practices.
Reporting to the Superintendent, the affirmative action officer shall review the following areas for compliance with state department of education regulations and make suggestions and/or recommendations to the Board of Education when necessary.
A. Curriculum Content
The affirmative action officer shall direct the review of current and proposed curriculum guides and textbooks to detect any bias based upon race, sex, religion, national origin, ancestry or culture. He/she shall ascertain that supplemental materials, singly or taken as a whole, fairly depict the contribution of both sexes and the various races, ethnic groups and the like towards the development of human society.
The affirmative action officer shall examine the following areas to ensure that curricula eliminate discrimination and promote understanding and mutual respect among students, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, socio-economic status or disability:
1. School climate
2. Courses of study
3. Instructional materials
4. Instructional strategies
5. Library materials
6. Software and audio-visual materials
7. Guidance and counseling
8. Extracurricular programs and activities
9. Testing and other assessments
The affirmative action officer shall monitor the curriculum to ensure inclusion of instruction on African-American history in the teaching of United States history and inclusion of instruction on the Holocaust and genocide in the curriculum for all elementary and secondary school pupils.
B. Staff Training
The affirmative action officer shall suggest a program of inservice training for school personnel designed to identify and solve problems of racial, sexual, religious, national or cultural bias in all aspects of the school program. An affirmative action/equity inservice program shall be held for teaching staff annually; for each support staff member at least once every three years; and for parents and community members as needed to facilitate participation and support.
C. Pupil Access
The affirmative action officer shall direct the review of all school facilities, courses, programs, activities, services and practices to ensure that all pupils have equal and bias free access thereto and are not segregated on the basis of race, color, creed, sex or national origin in any duty, work, play, classroom or school practice. Particular attention shall be paid to the following:
Ensuring equal access to all school and classroom facilities;
Assigning pupils in such a way that the racial/national origin composition of each school's enrollment reflects the composition of the districtwide enrollment at each grade level;
Refraining from locating new facilities in areas that will contribute to imbalanced, isolated or racially identifiable school enrollments;
Assigning pupils so that school and classroom enrollments are not identifiable on the basis of race, national origin or gender;
Ensuring that pupils are not separated or isolated within schools, courses, classes, programs or extracurricular activities;
Ensuring that minority and male pupils are not over-represented in detentions, suspensions, dropouts or special needs classifications;
Ensuring equal and bias-free access for all pupils to computers, computer classes and other technologically-advanced instructional assistance;
Ensuring that all limited English-proficient pupils and pupils with disabilities have equal and bias-free access to all school programs and activities;
Ensuring equal and bias-free access for language-minority pupils and pupils with disabilities to multiple measures for determining special needs;
Ensuring that pupil support services (such as school-based youth services, health care, tutoring and mentoring) are available to all pupils, including LEP pupils;
Ensuring that all pregnant pupils are permitted to remain in the regular school program and activities.
Ensuring access for the disabled.
D. District Support
The affirmative action officer shall ensure that like aspects of the school program receive like support as to staff size and compensation, purchase and maintenance of facilities and equipment, access to such facilities and equipment, and related matters and that all schools within the district are comparable in those areas.
The Superintendent will report to the Board of Education annually on continuing compliance.
E. Pupil Evaluation
The affirmative action officer shall ensure that tests, procedures or guidance and counseling materials, which are designed to evaluate pupil progress or rate aptitudes or analyze personality or in any manner establish or tend to establish a category by which a pupil may be judged are not differentiated or stereotyped on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, national origin or disability.
The Superintendent of Schools will implement the district affirmative action plan and provide for continuing compliance.
It is the responsibility of the West Milford Board of Education to identify and evaluate students who, within the intent of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act, need special services or programs in order that such students may receive a free appropriate public education.
A student who may need special services or programs within the intent of Section 504 is one who:
1. Has a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, including learning; or
2. Has a record of such impairment; or
3. Is regarded as having such impairment.
Students may be eligible for service under the provisions of Section 504 even though they do not require services pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Each qualified person within the District who is eligible to receive regular or special education or related aids or services, regardless of the nature or severity of the condition necessitating such programs or services, shall receive a free appropriate public education.
First Reading: December 12, 2000
Adopted: December 19, 2000