0100 Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

The Board of Education, its officers and employees, will not discriminate in its programs and activities on the basis of legally protected classes, such as, but not limited to race, (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles like braids, locks and twists), color, national origin, creed, religion, including religious practices, marital status, sex, (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), gender identity and expression (i.e., actual or perceived gender-related identity, appearance, behavior, expression, or other gender-related characteristic regardless of sex assigned to that person at birth, including but not limited to the status of being transgender), age, sexual orientation, disability (physical or mental), predisposing genetic characteristic, military work or status, domestic violence victim status, or use of a guide dog, hearing dog, or service dog, as applicable.  The district will provide notice of this policy in accordance with federal and state law and regulation.

This policy of non-discrimination includes access by students to educational programs, counseling services for students, course offerings, and student activities, as well as recruitment and appointment of employees and employment pay, benefits, advancement and/or terminations.

Specific protections for students under the Dignity for All Students Act are addressed in policy 0115.  Student Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention.

Additionally, to promote the district website’s accessibility to staff, students, and members of the community with disabilities, the district will maintain a website that is accessible (or contains accessible alternatives) on perceivability, operability and understandability principles. The district’s Director of Technology is responsible for considering the following when developing or updating the district website:

• Adding the text equivalent to every image;
• Posting documents in a text-based format such as HTML or RTF in addition to PDFs;
• Avoiding dictating colors and font settings;
• Including audio descriptions and captions to videos;
• Identifying other barriers to access; and
• Making other considerations when developing the district’s website.

The Board of Education, its officers and employees shall not discriminate against students on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sex; sexual orientation or gender (including gender identity and expression).

A finding that an individual has engaged in conduct in violation of this policy may result in disciplinary action and/or filing of a report with third parties in the manner prescribed by the district code of conduct, the law or applicable contract.

Nothing in this policy will be construed to prohibit a denial of admission into or exclusion from a course of instruction or activity based on a person’s gender that would be permissible under the law or to prohibit, as discrimination based on disability, actions that would be permissible under the law.

Annual Notification:  At the beginning of each school year, the district will publish a notice of the established grievance procedures for resolving complaints of discrimination to parents/guardians, employees, students and the community.  The public notice will:

1. inform parents, employees, students and the community that education programs, including but not limited to vocational programs, are offered without regard to actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sex; sexual orientation or gender (including gender identity and expression);
2. provide the name, address and telephone number of the person designated to coordinate activities concerning discrimination; and
3. be included in announcements, bulletins, catalogues, and applications made available by the district.

The Assistant Superintendent for Administration has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the district’s non-discrimination policies.  Contact information for the Assistant Superintendent for Administration/Title IX Coordinator, Mr. Matthew Matera, Central Islip UFSD, 50 Wheeler Road, Central Islip, NY  11722, phone: (631) 348-5000 and email address: mmatera@centralislip.k12.ny.us.  Complaints of sexual harassment or discrimination are covered by policy 0110. The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) can always be contacted regarding any complaints of sexual harassment or discrimination: New York Office, Office of Civil Rights, US Department of Education, 32 Old Slip, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10005-2500, 646-428-3900.

All complainants and those who participate in the investigation of a complaint in conformity with state law and district policies, who have acted reasonably and in good faith, have the right to be free from retaliation of any kind.    

The Board authorizes the Superintendent of Schools to establish such rules, regulations and procedures necessary to implement and maintain this policy.

Adoption date:  December 8, 2008
Revision date:   October 10, 2023

0100 Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity

Required Policy
Cross-reference:0110, Sexual Harassment
0115, Student Bullying and Harassment Prevention and Intervention
5030, Student Complaints and Grievances
5300, Code of Conduct
9140.1, Staff Complaints and Grievances

Reference:Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 29 U.S.C. §621 et seq.
Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.
Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000d et seq. (non-discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in federally assisted programs)
Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000e et seq. (non-discrimination based on race, color, and national origin in employment)
Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq. (non-discrimination based on sex)
§504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794
Individuals with Disabilities Education Law, 20 U.S.C §§1400 et seq.
Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act of 2008 P.L. 110-233
34 C.F.R. §§ 100.6, 104.8, 106.9, 110.25
Executive Law §290 et seq. (New York State Human Rights Law)
Education Law §§10-18 (The Dignity for All Students Act)
Education Law §§313(3), 3201, 3201-a
ADA Best Practices Tool Kit for State and Local Governments, Website Accessibility Under Title II of the ADA (see Chapter 5 and Chapter 5 Addendum checklist), www.ada.gov/pcatoolkit/toolkitmain.htm