(Name deleted for privacy)
I am writing in response to your July 23, 2010 email correspondence (attached) to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education (Department) which was referred the Department’s Office for Civil Rights’ (OCR) Customer Service and Technology Team for reply. In your correspondence, you stated that you had tried to get a teaching position in Florida but were only granted a few interviews. You also stated that from “California to Florida there is blatent [sic] discrimination against male teacher applicants especially on the Elementary level.” In your correspondence, you included some documents from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, (EEOC) as well as numerous articles. I am pleased to respond.
OCR is responsible for enforcing five federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability and age by recipients of federal financial assistance. These laws are:
* Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting discrimination based on race, color and national origin);
* Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (prohibiting sex discrimination);
* Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibiting disability discrimination);
* The Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (prohibiting age discrimination); and
* Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (prohibiting disability discrimination by public entities, e.g., public elementary and secondary school systems, postsecondary schools, and vocational education programs, whether or not they receive federal financial assistance).
In addition, OCR enforces the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, which addresses equal access to school facilities for the Boy Scouts and other specific youth groups.
OCR’s enforcement offices investigate complaints of alleged discrimination filed against education institutions that receive Federal funding from the Department. Please keep in mind, however, that complaints must be filed with OCR within 180 calendar days of the alleged discrimination to be considered filed in a timely manner.
If you believe that you have been discriminated against, you may file a complaint with OCR’s Atlanta Enforcement Office (Atlanta Office). The Atlanta Office is responsible for investigating complaints of alleged discrimination filed against educational institutions in Florida. You may contact OCR’s Atlanta Office directly at the following street mailing address, email address, or telephone number:
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights
61 Forsyth Street, S.W., Suite 19T70
Atlanta, GA 30303-3104
Telephone : 404-974-9406
TDD : 877-521-2172
Facsimile : 404-974-9471
Email : OCR.Atlanta@ed.gov
I am forwarding your correspondence to the Atlanta Office for its further review and appropriate handling. However, please be advised that OCR’s jurisdiction over employment discrimination is limited and the EEOC remains the premier federal agency for filing claims of discrimination based on race and age.
OCR encourages students and parents, representatives of education institutions, and other OCR customers to use email or facsimile to communicate with OCR, whenever possible. Also, complainants may file a complaint with OCR, online, at the following website: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html.
Also, you may wish to visit OCR’s website to see copies of the publications, entitled: How to File a Discrimination Complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, which explains the kind of information that is needed in filing a complaint, at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html
and OCR: Ensuring Equal Access to High-Quality Education, at: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/ensure03.html.
I hope the information provided is of assistance to you
Sincerely,
Sally Dunaway
Customer Service and Technology Team
Office for Civil Rights
cc: Atlanta Office, OCR