OAR 581-021-0660: Duties of and Training Requirements for Civil Rights Coordinators

(1) At a minimum, a civil rights coordinator shall: (a) Monitor, coordinate, and oversee district compliance with state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in public education, including ensuring the availability of, and providing to students and staff: (A) The notice of nondiscrimination required by OAR 581-021-0045; and (B) The district’s written complaint process for making reports of discrimination. (b) Oversee and ensure the resolution of district investigations of complaints alleging and substantiating discrimination, including the provision of remedies designed to restore and preserve equal access to an education program or activity ; (c) Provide guidance to district staff on civil rights issues in the district; (d) Respond to questions and concerns about civil rights in the district; (e) Coordinate efforts to prevent civil rights violations from occurring in the district; and (f) Satisfy the training requirements listed in subsections (2) and (3) of this rule. (2) Upon being first designated under OAR 581-021-0655, a civil rights coordinator must receive the following training in accordance with a schedule established by the Oregon Department of Education: (a) The meaning of discrimination under state and federal nondiscrimination law, including ORS 659.850, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. (b) The duties of districts under state and federal nondiscrimination law, including ORS 342.700 to 342.708, ORS 659.850 and 659.855, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, those statutes’ implementing rules and regulations, and determinations made by the Oregon Department of Education and the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. (c) The coordinators required by Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and those coordinators’ duties. (d) Identifying discrimination and reports of discrimination. (e) Responding to reports of discrimination. (f) Conducting civil rights investigations, including identifying conflicts of interest, and using strategies to mitigate conflicts of interest. (g) Preventing discrimination in public school programs and activities. (h) Identifying retaliation taken in response to reports of discrimination, responding to reports of such retaliation, and preventing such retaliation in public school programs and activities. (i) Tracking and documenting reports of discrimination. (3) In years subsequent to being designated a civil rights coordinator, a civil rights coordinator must annually receive the following training in accordance with a schedule established by the Oregon Department of Education: (a) The meaning of discrimination under state and federal nondiscrimination law, including ORS 659.850, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. (b) The duties of districts under state and federal nondiscrimination law, including ORS 342.700 to 342.708, ORS 659.850 and 659.855, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, those statutes’ implementing rules and regulations, and determinations made by the Oregon Department of Education and the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. (c) The coordinators required by Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and those coordinators’ duties. (d) Reporting discrimination, and responding to reports of discrimination, including through complaint processes and investigations. (4) The Oregon Department of Education annually will provide training for civil rights coordinators. Civil rights coordinators may take the department’s training or may take any other training that fulfills the requirements of this rule.