U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights Announces Resolution of Title VI and Title IX Discrimination Investigation of Forsyth County Schools
Today, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced the resolution of a complaint of sex, race, color, and national origin discrimination against Forsyth County Schools in Georgia.
OCR identified concerns that communications at district school board meetings provided the district notice that its library book screening process may have created a hostile environment for students; and the district’s responsive steps related to the library book screening process were not sufficient to ameliorate any resultant racially and sexually hostile environment.
Prior to OCR completing its investigation, the district expressed an interest in resolving the complaint and OCR determined that it was appropriate to resolve the complaint because OCR’s investigation identified concerns that can be addressed through a resolution agreement. The resolution agreement ensures that the district will issue a statement to students in the district explaining the library book removal process and offer supportive measures to students who may have been impacted by that process; administer a climate survey of the student bodies at each of the district’s middle and high schools to assess whether additional steps need to be taken; and implement ongoing monitoring until OCR is satisfied that the federal laws at issue are satisfied.
“I thank Forsyth County Schools for assessing and responding to the needs of the students who may have felt subjected to a hostile environment as a result of the library book screening process and for ensuring that, going forward, it will take appropriate action regarding acts of harassment that create a hostile environment based on sex, race, color or national origin,” said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon.
The letter to Forsyth County Schools is available here and the resolution agreement is available here.
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