December 2016 Education


Public schools’ enrollment, registration methods found in violation of civil rights


“Through this agreement, East Hartford Public Schools has committed


to correct its The U.S. Department of


Education announced today that its Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has reached an agreement with Connecticut’s East Hartford Public Schools after finding that the district violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by failing to provide adequate language services to limited English proficient (LEP) parents


unlawfully


and guardians and by imposing


barriers to


enrollment and applying additional registration and enrollment criteria to students based on national origin.


Title VI requires districts to address language barriers and prohibits discrimination


based


on national origin in education programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance.


registration and enrollment process to ensure that its schools are open to all students and that it treats all its students fairly,” said Catherine E. Lhamon, assistant secretary for civil rights. “We will continue to work with the district to implement this agreement and support the district’s efforts.”


launched in 2015, OCR examined the


and registration policies, procedures,


and practices to determine whether LEP parents and guardians received similar access to information as compared to non-LEP parents and guardians, and whether the district discriminated


against national


origin minority students. OCR determined


to


adequate LEP


that parents the


district violated Title VI by not providing services


language and


guardians. OCR’s findings include


During its compliance review district’s enrollment


www.hamptonroadsmessenger.com the following:


The district told LEP parents and guardians to provide their own interpreters to register students.


assess whether LEP parents and guardians required services.


The district did not properly language


The district failed to provide any training to its staff serving as interpreters, including responsibili- ties regarding confidentiality and use of specialized terms.


The district translated fewer


than half of its registration and enrollment documents into Spanish, the highest incidence language for LEP parents and guardians.


any written instructions regarding obtaining


The district failed to provide oral translation


of registration and enrollment


documents for LEP parents and guardians who speak languages other than Spanish.


district violated treating the


enrollment


OCR also found that the Title


students differently and information


VI by in


registration


process based on their national origin by impermissibly requiring or requesting


or documentation, such as passports


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The Hampton Roads Messenger 11


and social security cards, from students based on national origin, particularly based on language, or a belief that they were born outside of the U.S., while not making similar requests of other students.


Taking


approach violations,


under the


a comprehensive to address these along with related


matters, East Hartford Public Schools


agreed to remedy Title Revising its enrollment to take resolution actions agreement VI violations,


including, but not limited to, the following:


policies,


registration and procedures,


and practices to comply with Title VI.


Providing appropriate,


qualified, and competent interpreters and translations during the


enrollment process.


Issuing a “Notice of Language Assistance” in the district’s 10 most commonly spoken languages about the district’s free translation and interpreter services.


Requesting only permissible


material and information from all students registering and enrolling in the district.


and registration


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