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OSPI’s Equity and Civil Rights Office will be providing free webinar trainings this school year regarding civil rights protections and obligations in Washington public schools, starting with three opportunities in October:
- October 6 | Creating Gender-Inclusive Schools
- October 20 | Section 504: New Questions, Same Process
- October 27 | Role of the Civil Rights Coordinator
2 free clock hours are available per event. Learn more and register through pdEnroller (links below).
Creating Gender-Inclusive Schools
October 6 | 12–2 PM
School should be a safe, welcoming environment for every student—whether transgender, cisgender, or nonbinary—but not all states have nondiscrimination laws protecting students from discrimination based on gender identity and expression. In Washington state, however, the law is clear: Discrimination based on gender identity and expression is explicitly prohibited. But what does this mean in practice? And, more importantly, how do schools ensure they are consistently upholding this legal obligation and maintaining a gender-inclusive environment for all students? This training will provide an overview of the legal protections in place for Washington K-12 students, define some key (and constantly evolving) terms, share best practices, and answer the most frequently asked questions that we receive from schools about how to create and maintain a gender-inclusive learning environment for all students.
Who should attend? Gender-Inclusive Schools Coordinators| Civil Rights Coordinators | Open to all district and school staff
Register HERE
Section 504: New Questions, Same Process
October 20 | 12–2 PM
The COVID-19 pandemic has raised many new and challenging questions about meeting the needs of students with disabilities in public schools. While the Section 504 process and nondiscrimination principles remain the same, how schools meet these needs might need to change. This training provides an overview the Section 504 process—from identifying and evaluating students with disabilities to developing and implementing Section 504 plans. Consideration will be given to questions the OSPI Equity and Civil Rights Office commonly fields related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who should attend? Section 504 coordinators | School and district administrators | School counselors | School nurses | Open to all district and school staff
Register HERE
Role of the Civil Rights Coordinator
October 27 | 12–2 PM
In Washington, each school district must designate a civil rights coordinator who responsible for monitoring and coordinating the district’s compliance with state nondiscrimination laws. This training provides an overview of the of this role, including the scope of civil rights issues the coordinator should be familiar with and guidelines for coordinating investigations and compliance management. This training will also address some of the most common issues that arise in the OSPI Equity and Civil Rights Office’s investigations and compliance monitoring.
Who should attend? Civil Rights Coordinators | Open to all district and school staff
Register HERE
For questions about registration, please contact the Equity and Civil Rights Office at 360-725-6162, TTY: 360-664-3631, or by email at equity@k12.wa.us.
To arrange accommodations for persons with disabilities, please contact the Equity and Civil Rights Office at 360-725-6162, TTY: 360-664-3631, within 3 business days of the event. Please note that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) does not require OSPI to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose an undue financial or administrative burden.
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