Anti-Discrimination Policy & Reporting
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Nondiscrimination Statement
The Newburyport Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, or pregnancy related conditions, in admission to, access to, employment in, or treatment in its programs and activities.
The Newburyport Public Schools is committed to maintaining a school environment free of harassment based on race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, or pregnancy related conditions. Harassment by administrators, staff, support personnel, students, vendors, and other individuals at school, or at school-sponsored events, is unlawful and is strictly prohibited. The Newburyport Public Schools requires all employees and students to conduct themselves in an appropriate manner with respect to their fellow employees, students, and all members of the school community.
To file a complaint alleging discrimination by Newburyport Public Schools on the basis of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, pregnancy, or pregnancy related conditions, or to make inquiry concerning the application of Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, the ADA, the Age Discrimination Act, or applicable state laws and their respective implementing regulations, please contact the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
Nondiscrimination Policy Including Harassment and Retaliation (Policy AC)
The Newburyport School Committee and Newburyport Public Schools are committed to maintaining an education and work environment for all school community members. that is free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment and retaliation. The members of the school community include the School Committee, employees, administration, faculty, staff, students, volunteers in the schools, and parties contracted to perform work for the Newburyport Public Schools.
Newburyport Public Schools does not exclude from participation, deny the benefits of NPS from or otherwise discriminate against, individuals on the basis of race*, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, age, genetic information, active military/veteran status, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, or pregnancy-related condition, homelessness, ancestry, ethnic background, national origin, or any other category protected by state or federal law in the administration of its educational and employment policies, or in its programs and activities.
This commitment to the community is affirmed by the following statements. The School Committee commits to:
- Promoting the rights and responsibilities of all individuals as set forth in the State and Federal Constitutions, pertinent legislation, and applicable judicial interpretations.
- Encouraging positive experiences in human values for children, youth and adults, all of whom have differing personal and family characteristics and who come from various socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups.
- Working toward a more integrated society and enlisting the support of individuals as well as groups and agencies, both private and governmental, in such an effort.
- Using all appropriate communication and action techniques to air and address the grievances of individuals and groups.
- Carefully consider, in all the decisions made within the school district, the potential benefits or adverse consequences that those decisions might have on the human relations.
- Initiating a process of reviewing policies and practices of the school district in order to achieve to the greatest extent possible the objectives of this statement.
The Newburyport Public Schools requires all members of the school community to conduct themselves in accordance with this policy.
It shall be a violation of this policy for any member of the school community to engage in any form of discrimination, including harassment and retaliation, or to violate any other civil right of any member of the school community. We recognize that discrimination can take a range of forms and can be targeted or unintentional; however, discrimination in any form, including harassment and retaliation, will not be tolerated.
It shall also be a violation of this policy for any school community member to subject any other member of the school community to any form of retaliation, including, but not limited to, coercion, intimidation, interference, punishment, discrimination, or harassment, for reporting or filing a complaint of discrimination, cooperating in an investigation, aiding or encouraging another member of the school community to report such conduct or file a complaint, or opposing any act or practice reasonably believed to be prohibited by this policy.
*race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture, hair type, hair length and protective hairstyles.