MCOE Schools

Title IX - What is it?

Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is a federal law, enacted in 1972, which states: “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

On May 6, 2020, the United States Department of Education released its final rule under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The final rule requires school districts to follow a specific Title IX Grievance Process while investigating allegations of sexual misconduct. The Office of Civil Rights of the United States Department of Education considers sexual misconduct (including sexual harassment, sexual violence, sexual assault and intimate partner violence) to be a form of sexual discrimination and requires the school districts to take immediate and effective steps to respond to sexual misconduct.

Title IX NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE) prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, marital or parental status or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in all educational programs and activities, including athletic programs. No person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity operated by MCOE. Title IX protects all participants in MCOE educational programs and activities, including students, parents, employees, and job applicants. MCOE does not discriminate on the basis of sex. Discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Complaints

Inquiries concerning the application of Title IX and the Grievance Procedure may be referred to MCOE's Title IX Coordinator: Heather Rantala, MCOE Assistant Superintendent, Business Services is the Title IX Coordinator for MCOE schools. (707) 467-5034; hrantala@mcoe.us.

Nicole Odell, Assistant Superintendent - Educational Services, is the Title IX Decision-maker.

Training

On August 17, 2023, the Coordinator and Decision-maker received their Title IX training. To access the Title IX training materials used by MCOE: please view this slide presentation.