Department of Education

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Fiscal Year 2015 Budget Request

CONTENTS

Page

Appropriations Language ......................................................................................................BB-1

Amounts Available for Obligation ..........................................................................................BB-2

Obligations by Object Classification ......................................................................................BB-3

Summary of Changes ...........................................................................................................BB-4

Authorizing Legislation..........................................................................................................BB-6

Appropriations History...........................................................................................................BB-7

Office for Civil Rights.......................................................................................................BB-8
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

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Appropriations Language

For expenses necessary for the Office for Civil Rights, as authorized by section 203 of 

the Department of Education Organization Act, [$98,356,000] $102,000,000. (Department of 

Education Appropriations Act, 2014.)
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Obligations by Object ClassificationBB................................ -2 ...........................

Amounts Available for Obligation

(dollars in thousands)

Appropriation and Adjustments 2013 2014 2015

Discretionary budget authority:

Discretionar y budget authority:Appropriation............................................................ $102,624 $98,356 $102,000

Discretionar y budget authority:Across-the-board rescission (P.L. 113-6) ................. -205 0 0

Discretionar y budget authority: Subtotal, appropriation ............................................. 102,419 98,356 102,000

Discretionar y budget authority:Sequester (P.L. 112-25) ........................................... -5,163 0 0

Discretionar y budget authority:Transfer from Student Aid Administration ................. +1,100 0 0

Discretionar y budget authority: Subtotal, adjusted discretionary appropriation.......... 98,356 98,356 102,000

Discretionar y budget authority:Unobligated balance, expiring -92 0 0

Total, direct obligations ........................................... 98,264 98,356 102,000
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Obligations by Object ClassificationBB................................ -3 ...........................

CHANGE FROM

Object Class 2013 2014 2015 2014 to 2015

11.10 Full-time permanent $56,093 $56,804 $57,230 $426

11.31 Full-time temporary 1,166 1,166 1,174 8

11.32 Part-time 1,452 1,166 1,174 8

11.33 Consultants 122 0 0 0

11.51 Overtime 3 18 18 0

11.52 Awards 567 574 377 (197)

11.80 Other Compensation 89 0 0 0

 Compensation subtotal 59,492 59,728 59,973 245

12.00 Benefits 16,960 17,255 18,035 780

 Comp/benefits subtotal 76,452 76,983 78,008 1,025

21.00 Travel 445 673 673 0

22.00 Transportation of things 16 0 0 0

23.10 Rental Payments to GSA 8,262 8,045 7,755 (290)

23.31 Communications 211 162 162 0

23.32 Postage/fees 3 73 64 (9)

 Subtotal 23 8,476 8,280 7,981 (299)

24.00 Printing & Reproduction 7 13 13 0

25.21 Other Services 784 699 798 99

25.22 Training/Tuition/Contracts 179 233 223 (10)

25.30 Goods/Services from Gov't 1,961 2,330 2,454 124

25.40 Operations/Maint of Facilities 0 1 1 0

25.71 Operations/Maint of Equipment 14 15 15 0

25.72 IT Services/Contracts 9,595 9,006 11,698 2,692

 Subtotal 25 12,533 12,284 15,189 2,905

26.00 Supplies 117 32 32 0

31.10 IT Equipment/Software 125 91 104 13

31.30 Other Equipment 60 0 0 0

 Subtotal 31 185 91 104 13

32.00 Building Alterations 33 0 0 0

Total 98,264 98,356 102,000 3,644

Obligations by Object Classification

(dollars in thousands)

Click here for accessible version Obligations by Object Classification
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Obligations by Object ClassificationBB................................ -4 ...........................

Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

2014................................................................................................. $98,356

2015................................................................................................. 102,000

Net change ............................................................... +3,644

Increases: 2014 base Change from base

Built in:

i Built in Increase in salaries primarily to support a proposed 

1 percent Governmentwide pay raise. $59,136 +$442

Built in Increase in benefits for OCR’s share of health,

retirement, and other benefits, as well as increased 

FERS contribution rates starting October 2014.

17,255 +780

Program:

ProgramIncrease in other services for electronic records 

management, translation services, and security 

services. 699 +99

ProgramIncrease in Goods and services from Government 

for IT and physical security, and payroll processing 

system. 2,330 +124

ProgramIncrease in Information Technology services/ 

contracts for the Civil Rights Data Collection, 

EDWeb, and Information Assurance Enhancement. 9,006 +2,692

ProgramSmall increase in Information Technology 

equipment/software. 91 +13

Subtotal, increases +4,150
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

Obligations by Object ClassificationBB................................ -5 ...........................

Summary of Changes

(dollars in thousands)

Decreases: 2014 base Change from base

Program:

ProgramDecrease in awards. $574 -$197

ProgramDecrease in postage. 73 -9

ProgramDecrease in rent. 8,045 -290

ProgramDecrease in training. 233 -10

Subtotal, decreases -506

Net Change +3,644
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Authorizing Legislation

(dollars in thousands)

Activity

2014

Authorized

footnote

2014

Estimate

footnote

2015

Authorized

footnote

2015

Request

footnote

Civil Rights (DEOA) Indefinite $98,356 Indefinite $102,000

Total definite authorization 0 0

Total appropriation 98,356 102,000

BB-6
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

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Appropriations History

(dollars in thousands)

Year

Budget 

Estimate 

to Congress

House 

Allowance Foot

-

note

Senate 

Allowance Foot

-

note AppropriationFootnote

2006 $91,526 $91,526 $91,526 $90,611

2007 92,866 N/A1 N/A1 91,2051

2008 93,771 93,771 93,771 89,612

2009 96,826 96,0402 89,6122 96,826

2009 Transfer 0 0 0 -60

2010 103,024 103,024 103,0243 103,024

2011 105,700 103,0244 105,7003 102,8185

2012 107,772 102,8186 102,8186 102,624

2013 102,624 102,6247 102,6247 98,356

2014 98,356 N/A8 98,3563 98,356

2015 102,000

1 This account operated under a full-year continuing resolution (P.L. 110-5). House and Senate allowances are 

shown as N/A (Not Available) because neither body passed a separate appropriations bill. 2 The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2009 appropriations bill, 

which proceeded in the 110th Congress only through the House Subcommittee and the Senate Committee. 3 The level for the Senate allowance reflects Committee action only. 4 The level for the House allowance reflects the House-passed full-year continuing resolution. 5 The level for appropriation reflects the Department of Defense and Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011

(P.L. 112-10). 6 The level for the House allowance reflects an introduced bill and the level for the Senate allowance reflects 

Senate Committee action only. 7 The levels for the House and Senate allowances reflect action on the regular annual 2013 appropriations bill, 

which proceeded in the 112th Congress only through the House subcommittee and the Senate Committee. 8 The House allowance is shown as N/A because there was no Subcommittee action.
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

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Office for Civil Rights

(DEOA, section 203)

(dollars in thousands)

FY 2015 Authorization: Indefinite

Budget Authority:

Annual Fund

2014 2015

Change

from 2014

Personnel costs $76,983 $78,008 +$1,025

Non-personnel costs 21,373 23,992 +2,619

Total 98,356 102,000 +3,644

FTE 558 558 0

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The mission of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is to ensure equal access to education and to 

promote educational excellence throughout the Nation through vigorous enforcement of civil 

rights laws. This is in alignment with the Department’s mission to promote student achievement 

and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring 

equal access.

OCR ensures equal access to education by enforcing Federal civil rights laws and implementing 

regulations that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, 

and age in all programs and institutions that receive financial assistance from the Department. 

These laws are:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibiting race, color, and national origin 

discrimination);

• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (prohibiting sex discrimination);

• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibiting disability discrimination);

• Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (prohibiting age discrimination); 

• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (prohibiting disability discrimination in 

State and local government services __ whether or not programs receive Federal financial 

assistance); and

• Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2002 (prohibiting public elementary and 

secondary schools, local educational agencies, and State educational agencies from 

denying equal access or a fair opportunity to meet, or discriminating against, any group 

officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America or any other youth group listed as a 

patriotic society in Title 36 of the United States Code).
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

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These and other civil rights laws extend to a wide range of Federal recipients, including: all 

State educational agencies; approximately 16,900 local educational agencies; approximately 

7,200 postsecondary institutions, including proprietary schools and community colleges; 

80 State vocational rehabilitation agencies and their sub-recipients; as well as other institutions 

that receive U.S. Department of Education financial assistance, such as libraries, museums, 

and correctional institutions. More than 79 million individuals are beneficiaries of the financial 

assistance these institutions and agencies receive on behalf of the Department.

OCR PROGRAM INFORMATION

Organizational Structure and Staffing

The Office for Civil Rights requires a staffing level of 558 full-time equivalents (FTEs) to support 

its mission. Currently, 88 percent of OCR’s staff is located in 12 enforcement offices throughout 

the country and the remaining 12 percent occupies OCR’s headquarters office. The 

Headquarters and DC Metro Enforcement offices are located in Washington, DC, and the 

remaining 11 Enforcement offices are located in 10 regional centers and 1 field office

throughout the Nation: Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Kansas City,

Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, and the Cleveland field office.

OCR is headed by an Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary is supported by a Principal 

Deputy Assistant Secretary, a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement, a Deputy Assistant 

Secretary for Policy, and a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach.

These positions report to the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary. 

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Enforcement is responsible for oversight of the 

12 Enforcement offices and the 3 Enforcement Directors who provide day-to-day leadership to 

those offices. The Enforcement Offices’ primary responsibilities are conducting complaint 

investigations, participating in identifying and setting proactive enforcement priorities, 

conducting proactive compliance reviews, and delivering technical assistance.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy oversees the Headquarters’ Program Legal Group 

that provides a range of legal services including: developing policy guidance, developing 

technical assistance materials, consulting on cases from the enforcement offices, regulation 

development, determining the compliance status of recipients, and helping ensure that civil 

rights issues are appropriately addressed within the Department’s programs and initiatives and 

among Federal Agencies.

The Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategic Operations and Outreach has responsibility for 

facilitating overall strategy and coordination among the different components of OCR, and for 

establishing and maintaining effective relations between OCR and the public, Congress, Federal 

executive agencies, and State and local entities. This position supervises the Director of OCR’s 

Resource Management Group and oversees management of budgetary and other resources, 

communications, information systems, staff and organizational development, contracts, training, 

customer service, and general services.
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

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Civil Rights Challenges While Promoting Efficient Spending

OCR has become a more effective and visible organization while its appropriations and the 

number of on-board staff have decreased. Most recently, full-time equivalent staff usage 

decreased approximately 3 percent from 582 in FY 2012 to 565 in FY 2013. Resolving 

complaints of discrimination brought by the public has always been OCR’s primary function, and 

the volume of complaints continues to grow. In FY 2012, OCR received 7,833 complaints and 

resolved 8,163, some of which had been filed in previous years. OCR received 9,950

complaints in FY 2013, a 27 percent increase over FY 2012 (roughly half of the increase was 

due to a large number of cases filed by 3 individuals). The ever-increasing number of complaint 

receipts occupies the workload for the majority of the staff.

While managing the increase in complaint receipts, OCR is implementing refinements to case 

processing to free more staff for proactive work. For example, the FY 2012 Rapid Resolution 

Process pilot, which focused on resolving single-issue disability complaints, was rolled out in all 

of OCR’s regional and field offices in FY 2013. Under this process, immediate contact is made 

with the complainant to attempt to resolve the issue via telephone. In 2013, OCR designed,

developed, and tested a Web-based Pre-Complaint Assistance Request Form to help potential 

complainants understand the scope of OCR’s authority and reduce the number of complaints 

filed that do not fall under OCR’s authority. This form should save staff time currently used for 

logging in, reviewing, and/or referring such complaints to another agency. In August 2014, OCR 

will measure the impact that this form has had on its online complaints. 

Boston

New York City

Philadelphia

Washington, D.C.

(Headquarters and 

field office)

Regional Offices

Field Offices

OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

2015 Headquarters & Regional Staff

Seattle

San

Francisco Denver

Kansas

City

Chicago

Atlanta

Dallas

Cleveland

Regional & Field Offices: 489 FTE

Headquarters: 69 FTE

Total Staff Level: 558 FTE
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While complaint receipts rise, case processing resolution time has continued to exceed 

established Government Performance and Results Act efficiency measures. However, 

proactive compliance reviews, required by regulation (34 C.F.R. § 100.7(a)), have suffered from 

spending cuts. Complaints often affect one or a small group of students, whereas compliance 

reviews target issues of discrimination that are acute, regional, national in scope, or are newly 

emerging. They are designed to affect significant change at the target institution and provide 

widely applicable solutions. In fiscal years 2010 and 2011, OCR initiated 74 compliance 

reviews, but in fiscal years 2012 and 2013, OCR initiated only 31 compliance reviews, a 

42 percent decrease. The reduced number of initiated compliance reviews was a result of their 

complexity; the need to resolve open compliance reviews before initiating new ones; and the 

need to shift staff resources to investigate the increased number of complaint receipts. Funding 

reductions significantly jeopardized OCR’s ability to keep pace and address emerging civil rights 

concerns proactively. (Complaint Receipts and Resolutions chart shown on page BB-18).

Compliance Reviews Initiated and Resolved

In addition to working on complaints and compliance reviews, OCR’s staff monitor resolution 

agreements and ensure their appropriate implementation. OCR also issues policy guidance on 

current and emerging civil rights issues that emphasize real-world scenarios and examples, 

conducts outreach, and provides technical assistance and customer service to Federal 

recipients and the public to increase compliance with and understanding of civil rights laws. 

Increased case processing efficiencies, use of technology, and the alignment of OCR’s policy, 

compliance, and enforcement activities around priority issues will continue to enhance program 

effectiveness. However, given the decline in staffing, there are limits to what OCR can continue 

to accomplish. Full funding of OCR’s budget request is critical to implementing the 

Department’s mission and to ensuring schools’ adherence to equity and nondiscrimination in the 

21st century. This is especially true given that OCR anticipates having less capacity to maintain 

the quantity and timeliness of complaint resolutions in the coming years. Removing barriers to 

equal educational opportunity for students is not only a moral imperative, but an economic 

necessity.

FY 07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13

Initiated 23 42 29 37 37 6 25

Resolved 26 38 24 27 4 14 17

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Compliance Reviews
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

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Funding levels for the past 5 fiscal years were:

Fiscal Year

(dollars in thousands)

2010.................................................................................. $103,024

2011.................................................................................... 102,818

2012.................................................................................... 102,624

2013...................................................................................... 98,356

2014...................................................................................... 98,356

______________________

FY 2015 BUDGET REQUEST

The total FY 2015 request is $102.0 million with a full-time equivalent (FTE) level of 558. This 

request is a $3.7 million, or 3.7 percent, increase above the FY 2014 estimate. 

• The Personnel Compensation and Benefits (PC&B) request of $78.0 million is an increase 

of $1.025 million over the FY 2014 level due to a proposed pay raise of 1 percent, built-in 

benefits increases, as well as increased FERS contribution rates starting October 2014.

The FTE level of 558 is the same as in FY 2014.

• Non-Personnel costs, excluding centralized services, will be $4.8 million, an increase of 

$2.6 million over FY 2014. The majority of non-personnel funds is for the Civil Rights Data 

Collection (CRDC) ($3.3 million), software support to operate OCR’s Case and Activity 

Management System (CAMS) ($255,000), and travel ($673,000).

• OCR’s FY 2015 share of the Department’s centralized services (overhead) amount of 

$19.2 million reflects an increase of $20,000, due to projected increases in information 

technology (IT), and physical security.

FY 2015 Budget

(dollars in thousands)

Total: $102.000

FTE: 558

*Non-Personnel:

Travel

Trans. of things

Printing

Training

Communications

Copier rentals

Supplies

Non-IT equip./

furniture

Technology

Building 

alterations

Personnel

$78,008

76%

(includes 

Overtime & 

Awards)

Centralized 

Services

$19.240

19%

*NonPersonnel

$4.752

5%
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

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Personnel Costs

For FY 2015, PC&B costs are 76 percent of the request, or $78.0 million, $1.025 million over the 

FY 2014 level. The request maintains an FTE level of 558, the same as 2014. To provide 

context for OCR’s request, it is anticipated that the 2015 FTE request would result in a ratio of 

complaints per FTE that is higher than the 2012 actual; however, the requested level should be 

adequate to ensure that OCR continues to meet its performance targets, in part due to the 

increased capacity to carry out compliance reviews. 

As the chart below shows, from 2005 to 2013, OCR’s staffing level decreased by 11 percent 

while complaint receipts rose almost 80 percent.

Awards & Overtime

OCR is requesting $377,000 for awards and $18,000 for overtime for a total of $395,000, a 

decrease of $197,000 below the FY 2014 level. OCR rewards staff based upon performance. 

The requested amount will enable OCR to provide appropriate recognition for high performance 

and will compensate those employees who work additional hours to complete critical projects 

within constricted timeframes, consistent with departmental policy. This award level will be 

considerably lower than the prescribed amounts under the awards guidance memorandum 

(M-14-02) issued by the Office of Personnel Management on November 1, 2013.

Non-Personnel Costs

The total request for non-personnel activities in FY 2015, excluding departmental centralized 

services, is $4.8 million, an increase of $2.599 million above the 2014 level. The requested 

non-personnel funds will provide program support to resolve complaints of discrimination filed 

by the public and ensure that institutions receiving Federal financial assistance are in 

compliance with the civil rights laws enforced by OCR. Of the requested increase, 98 percent, 

or $2.545 million, is for the Civil Rights Data Collection.

FY 05 FY 06 FY 07 FY 08 FY 09 FY 10 FY 11 FY 12 FY 13 FY 14* FY 15*

FTE Usage 640 630 614 614 582 585 619 582 565 558 558

Complaints Received 5,533 5,805 5,894 6,194 6,364 6,933 7,841 7,833 9,950 9,950 9,950

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

10,000

11,000

500

520

540

560

580

600

620

640

660

Complaints Received

FTE Usage

*Estimated 

Complaints
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

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OCR’s non-pay projects are listed below:

Information Technology Services/Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) — OCR is requesting 

$3.3 million for the CRDC, an increase of $2.545 million above the FY 2014 level of $791,000. 

The majority of the increase supports the collection of 2015-16 school year CRDC data in 

FY 2015. OCR funds available in FY 2014 are sufficient to fund Phase I and partially fund 

Phase II of the 2013-2014 Universal CRDC. Funds requested in FY 2015 will begin important 

notification efforts for the 2015-2016 Universal CRDC and complete funding of Phases I, II and 

III of the 2015-2016 CRDC. OCR has been working with the National Center for Education 

Statistics (NCES) and other Department offices to identify key new data items for inclusion in 

the 2013-2014 CRDC, such as those relating to school safety. NCES and OCR will deploy a 

new data collection tool with improved quality assurance checks for the next CRDC. OCR 

intends to use FY 2014 and FY 2015 funds to provide technical assistance for school districts 

on preparing and submitting accurate data. The following table provides a detailed account of 

the CRDC budget for fiscal years 2013-2015: 

School Year Major Activity Fiscal Year 

2013

Fiscal Year 

2014

Fiscal Year 

2015

CRDC 2011-12 Phase IV - Finalizing Data Files: Data 

quality closeout, time series.

$126,887 0 0

CRDC 2011-12 Data collection from LEAs: Incentive 

payment for achieving high response rate.

325,000 0 0

CRDC 2013-14 Phase I - Notification & Guidance:

Notification to school districts, identifying 

primary point of contact, guidance.

0 $527,700 0

CRDC 2013-14 Phase II - Preparing for data 

submissions: File specifications, precollection tools, confirmation of school 

directory, technical assistance to prepare 

districts to collect and submit data (Web 

collection tool development through NCES).

0 107,270

CRDC 2013-14 Phase III - Survey Submission Window: 

Begin data collection from LEAs, Partner 

Support Center for technical support for 

school districts' data submissions (Web 

collection tool development and Partner 

Support center funded through NCES 

contract).

0 NCES 

funds will 

cover this 

Phase

0

Phase IV - Finalizing Data Files: Data 

quality review & editing, time series, privacy 

protection (Web collection tool development 

and data editing funded through NCES 

contract).

NCES 

funds will 

cover this 

Phase

CRDC 2015-16 Phase I - Notification & Guidance:

Notification to school districts, identifying 

primary point of contact, guidance (Q&A).

0 0 $538,285

Phase II - Preparing for data 

submissions: File specifications, precollection tools, confirmation of school 

directory, technical assistance to prepare 

districts to collect and submit data (Web 

collection tool development through NCES).

1,618,891
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CRDC 2015-16 Phase III - Survey Submission Window: 

Begin data collection from LEAs, Partner 

Support Center for technical support for 

school districts' data submissions.

$1,020,040

CRDC Data Web site Data Web site operations and maintenance 

support; uploading the 2011-12 Data; and 

Data Analysis for report development, 

developing estimations for low item 

response variables.

$72,246 75,000

Web Hosting Web hosting under the EDUCATE contract. $83,784 83,784 83,784 

Total CRDC 

Expenses

Total CRDC Expenses $535,671 $791,000 $3,336,000

Information Technology Services/Case Activity Management System (CAMS) — OCR is 

requesting $255,000 for CAMS, same as FY 2014. OCR’s CAMS is an electronic tracking 

system used to record OCR’s case status and store the documents associated with each case. 

It uses a combination of three software applications: Case Management System (CMS), Activity 

Management System, and Open Text Document Management System. The funding for this 

project provides for: (a) enhancements to apply business process changes and to improve the 

usage of these core systems; (b) compliance with up-to-date departmental IT environment; and 

(c) software subscription services to maintain version upgrades and technical phone support on 

the Open Text products. OCR’s current contract must be recompeted in 2015. OCR is 

currently conducting a needs assessment to determine the extent of and requirements for 

critical unmet needs that have been identified by CAMS’ core users. 

Information Technology Services/Office for Civil Rights Main Web site Operations and 

Maintenance of ‘new’ deployed capabilities — OCR is requesting $50,000, same as the 

FY 2014 level, for the operations and maintenance (O&M) support to the OCR Complaint PreAssessment (CAS) and Online Complaints Database (OCD) support tools. The pre-assessment 

tool is an automated “walkthrough” of the considerations a potential complainant should make 

prior to deciding to submit an online discrimination complaint. The intent is to reduce the 

number of complaints filed that ultimately are dismissed because they have no merit or are sent 

incorrectly to OCR for resolution assistance. The OCD database is the repository of submitted 

data from the Online Complaint Form that contains all of the detailed data needed by OCR staff

to launch a potential investigation into the complaint allegation. Both tools were integrated into 

the new OCR Online Complaint Form work flow process, which resided in the deployed OCR 

general Web site in FY 2013, and now must be maintained in the operational Web site starting

in FY 2014. The deployment of the new online complaint form supports capability for record 

input, data capturing, and storage. Now that the OCD and CAS code have been deployed and 

fully integrated into the online complaint form, the operations and maintenance phase for the 

application code project (hosted in an Education Department Utility for Communications, 

Applications and Technology Environment (EDUCATE) production server) begins. O&M 

funding supports: 

a. Basic application maintenance and general code enhancements to apply business 

process changes, and to improve the usage of the core code components integrated into 

the Online Complaint Form; 

b. Assist with complying with up-to-date departmental Web site IT environmental changes; 

and 

c. Security assurance updates as directed by ED.
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Travel — OCR is requesting a travel budget of $673,000, same as the FY 2014 level. The 

overwhelming majority of OCR’s travel funds are used to investigate complex complaints, 

conduct proactive compliance reviews, provide technical assistance, and monitor corrective 

action plans. In addition, OCR must ensure that staff and leadership in the enforcement offices 

have the ability to meet regularly to receive critical training, civil rights updates, and 

management skills to improve OCR operations. Face-to-face communication is sometimes 

essential for communicating organizational priorities, supporting professional networks and 

learning, and providing critical information and training for OCRs managers and staff spread 

among 13 locations around the country. These are functions that cannot be achieved solely

through video or teleconferencing. At the same time, OCR must also utilize improved 

technology to enable optimal video communications and conferencing between the enforcement 

offices and headquarters to reduce the need for costly travel. If funds are not provided at the 

requested level, OCR’s ability to achieve coordination and improvement in OCR’s policy, 

compliance, and enforcement activities will be greatly diminished.

Postage — OCR is requesting $40,000 for overnight shipping costs, same as the FY 2014 level. 

These funds were previously budgeted for in Centralized services and are now within the OCR 

non-pay budget.

Printing — OCR is requesting $13,000 for printing, same as the FY 2014 level. In 2015, these 

funds will be used to print updated pamphlets in various languages, the “Report to the President 

on Accomplishments,” OCR letterhead, literature on upcoming anniversaries and historic 

events, and restocking OCR’s publications inventory.

Training — OCR is requesting a training budget of $2,000; no funds were requested in 2014. 

OCR’s leadership recognizes that the success of its work depends on the quality of its staff 

across all levels of the organization, and is taking steps to increase the agency’s investment in 

improving staff training and development. Opportunities need to be provided for staff to 

participate in leadership programs, supervisory training, policy conferences, and continuing 

legal education around key civil rights priority areas. Because of decreased staffing, OCR also 

needs to provide training opportunities to employees who assume additional functions. In 

addition, staff must receive training on investigation, mediation, and negotiation techniques, and 

on OCR’s case management process generally, to promote excellence and consistency in 

OCR’s enforcement activities.

Communication/Copier Rentals and Operations and Maintenance of Facilities — OCR is 

requesting $178,000, the same level as FY 2014. The funds are needed for existing copier 

rental and maintenance agreements ($177,000) and maintenance of facilities ($1,000).

Other Services/Goods and Services/Transportation/Supplies — OCR is requesting $220,000, 

an increase of $12,000 above the FY 2014 level. The request includes: 

• Legal Research Services ($71,000) — This is level-funded at the FY 2014 level. The

contract provides an automated full-text legal information system that offers online access 

to Federal and State case law, statutes of all 50 States, legal publications, and law reports. 

If this project is not funded, it would eliminate the ability of attorneys to conduct desktop 

legal research and would require staff to perform legal research out of the office.
OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS

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• All Other Services/Goods and Services/Transportation/maintenance of equipment

($120,000) — This is an increase of $12,000 from the FY 2014 level. The request 

includes: support for ED Pubs at $50,000; translation services (translating documents and 

pamphlets into several languages) at $15,000; miscellaneous services for advertisement 

and short-term contractual services at $32,000; and General Services Administration 

leased vehicles and equipment at $23,000.

• Supplies ($29,000) — This is level funded from FY 2014. These funds are needed to 

renew periodical subscriptions relating to law, disabilities, and general news; support case 

files maintenance; purchase copier paper; and purchase expired items in each employees’ 

“emergency kit,” such as batteries. OCR has depleted its available on hand supply items, 

which at times can delay staff from putting together proactive presentations and briefing 

materials. 

Departmental Centralized Support

Approximately 74 percent of the total non-personnel budget request is to cover OCR’s share of 

the Department’s centralized services. The FY 2015 request is $19.2 million, an increase of

$20,000 above the FY 2014 level of $19.2 million. The funding request will cover the cost of 

services such as: rent; departmental training; records information management support 

services; interagency agreements for administrative services provided by other Federal 

Agencies, such as payroll processing, overtime utilities, training coordination and career 

counseling; and the EDUCATE contract that covers telecommunications, computers and related 

hardware, smartphones, IT processing services, network support, end user support, 

maintenance, and improvements.
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PROGRAM OUTPUT MEASURES

The following chart shows the number of OCR’s complaint receipts and resolutions since 

FY 2006. Actual data are shown for fiscal years 2006-2013 and estimates are shown for fiscal 

years 2014-2015.

Complaint Receipts and Resolutions

FY 2006 – FY 2015

FY 2013 complaint receipts had a 27 percent increase compared to the previous year (9,950

compared to 7,833). For FY 2013, the number of complaint resolutions increased 24 percent

(10,128 compared to 8,163), with a more than 7 percent increase in complaints that were 

resolved with change, including Early Complaint Resolution. In fiscal years 2014-2015, OCR 

estimates a 1 percent increase in complaint receipts over FY 2013.

The following chart reflects complaint caseload by jurisdiction for FY 2013. OCR disability 

discrimination complaints were 43 percent (4,272) of the total filed complaints and the sex 

discrimination complaints rose to 23 percent (2,242) due mainly to multiple (1,801) complaints 

filed by two individuals.

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Resolutions 5,893 5,737 5,943 6,150 6,830 7,434 8,163 10,128 10,200 10,200

Receipts 5,805 5,894 6,194 6,364 6,933 7,841 7,833 9,950 9,950 9,950

0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000
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FY 2013 Complaint Caseload by Jurisdiction

(October 1, 2012 – September 30, 2013)

PROGRAM PERFORMANCE INFORMATION

Performance Measures

OCR’s Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) measures are designed to assess 

the efficiency and accessibility of the complaint resolution process. While performance has 

remained strong over time, OCR anticipates difficulty sustaining this level of performance in 

future years without sufficient and appropriate funding.

Current performance measures for complaint workload:

Measure: Percentage of complaints resolved within 180 days.

Year Target Actual

2010 80% 90%

2011 80 92

2012 80 93

2013 80 95

2014 80

2015 80

Race/National 

Origin 1,192 (12%)

Sex Discrimination 

2,242 (23%)

Disability 

Discrimination 

4,272 (43%)

Age Discrimination 

125 (1%)

Multiple 

Allegations 

1,333 (13%)

Other Complaints 

786 (8%)

Total Complaints - 9,950
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Measure: Percentage of complaints pending over 180 days.

Year Target Actual

2010 < 25% 22%

2011 < 25 18

2012 < 25 19

2013 < 25 19

2014 < 25

2015 < 25

Additional information: The first performance measure has two targets encompassing OCR’s 

entire complaint workload, which together hold OCR accountable for efficient case resolution. 

Complaint receipts are rising and becoming more complex. Despite lower staffing levels, OCR 

has implemented an ambitious proactive agenda of complex compliance reviews and technical 

assistance activities. There has also been an increased number and level of monitoring of 

resolution agreements to ensure an entity’s full compliance. For FY 2013, workload had a 

significant increase, however OCR’s GPRA scores remained similar to FY 2012.

Measure: Mean score of customer satisfaction survey.

Year Target Actual

2010 3.66 3.89

2011 3.66 3.86

2012 3.66 3.86

2013 3.66 3.87

2014 3.66

2015 3.66

Additional information: OCR’s second performance measure looks at customer satisfaction 

through a customer service survey that is distributed to both complainants and recipients after 

case resolution. The survey measures courteous and considerate treatment of customers;

prompt, clear, and responsive communication (oral and written); and whether the customer is 

kept informed about his or her case. A fiscal year 2005 survey was used to establish baseline 

at 3.66 (on a scale of 1 through 5).

OCR Initiatives and Activities to Support the Department’s Strategic Plan

OCR’s mission is specifically linked to the Department’s FY 2014-2018 Strategic Plan “Goal 4: 

Equity”, and in particular, “Sub-goal 4.2: Civil Rights Enforcement.” Under this sub-goal, OCR is 

responsible for ensuring educational institutions’ compliance with Federal civil rights laws and 

enhancing the public’s knowledge of their civil rights under these laws. To ensure the success 

of OCR’s sub-goal under the Department’s strategic plan, sufficient funding is needed to support 

the following initiatives and activities:
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Promote Teacher and Resource Equity

Inequitable “access” to strong teachers and the resources necessary to succeed are the leading 

contributors to opportunity gaps experienced by low-income and racial and linguistic minority 

students in America. OCR is committed to reducing the opportunity gaps by vigorously 

enforcing Title VI to ensure that African-American and Hispanic students, English learners and 

other students that face discriminatory disparities have “access” to effective teachers and 

education resources. Because of the sheer volume of materials and data involved in

investigating such cases, teacher and resource equity investigations are among the most 

challenging that OCR conducts. These types of investigations require funding for a full team of

attorneys, investigators, data statistical analysis and entry support, and policy counsel. OCR 

anticipates allocating more staffing and support to complete these investigations in FY 2015.

Reduce Discriminatory Discipline

In July 2011, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced 

the Supportive School Discipline Initiative (SSDI), a collaborative project between the 

Departments of Justice and Education to address the “school-to-prison pipeline” and the 

disciplinary policies and practices that can push students out of school and into the justice 

system. The initiative aims to support good discipline practices to foster safe and productive 

learning environments in every classroom. 

The goal of SSDI took on new urgency following the Newtown tragedy in late 2012, when 

26 children and school personnel lost their lives in an act of gun violence at Sandy Hook 

Elementary School. In January 2013, the President announced Now Is the Time, a four-part 

plan to reduce gun violence and create safer schools and communities. The plan 

acknowledges that “effective school discipline policies are critical to addressing school and 

community crime and violence issues” and requires the Department of Education to “collect and 

disseminate best practices on school discipline polices and help school districts develop and 

equitably implement such policies.”1

 Addressing school discipline is both a key civil rights 

priority of OCR in FY 2015 and a priority for the entire Administration.

In January 2014, OCR, the Department of Education, and the Department of Justice released a 

school discipline guidance package (see http://www2.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/schooldiscipline/index.html) that will assist States, districts and schools in developing practices and 

strategies to enhance school climate, and ensure those policies and practices comply with 

Federal law. The guidance package included two critical documents related to school discipline: 

(1) a legal policy guidance (“Dear Colleague Letter”) describing educational institutions’ 

obligations to identify and remedy discriminatory school discipline practices under Title VI of the 

Civil Rights Act of 1964; and (2) a guidance principles document responsive to the President’s 

directive in Now Is the Time. In FY 2015, OCR will need funds to escalate technical assistance 

efforts in this arena to ensure that these critical documents are widely disseminated and 

understood by schools and by the public. With the new policy guidance, OCR will continue its 

enforcement efforts in the discipline arena to enhance legal compliance with Title VI.

 1 See http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/wh_now_is_the_time_full.pdf.
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Reduce Racial Isolation and Increase Diversity

Racial isolation in U.S. schools remains alarmingly high. Studies show that 80 percent of Latino 

students and 74 percent of Black students are in schools where the majority of students are not 

White, and 43 percent of Latinos and 38 percent of Black students attend "intensely segregated 

schools" in which White students comprise 10 percent or less of the student body. (See 

http://civilrightsproject.ucla.edu.) In December 2011, OCR released two policy guidance letters 

to assist K-12 schools in voluntary efforts to reduce racial isolation and increase racial diversity, 

and to assist postsecondary institutions in voluntary efforts to increase racial diversity. 

Following U.S. Supreme Court cases like Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle 

School District and Fisher v. University of Texas see

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-qa-201309.pdf), it is more important than ever 

that OCR receives funds to expand its reach to educational institutions by providing up-to-date 

legal guidance and interactive technical assistance on how they may voluntarily and proactively 

take steps to diversify their student populations, in accordance with the law. 

Increase Knowledge of Title IX and Disability Coordinators

OCR’s regulations require each recipient to designate at least one employee to coordinate its 

efforts to comply with Title IX and Section 504, including investigations of any complaints of 

non-compliance the recipient receives. For the first time, OCR has proposed to collect from 

each public school district (through the Civil Rights Data Collection) the name and contact 

information of these employees. In order to ensure that these coordinators are effectively 

meeting their Federal obligation to further Federal civil rights, OCR will need funds in FY 2015 to 

assess the needs of these coordinators, provide them training and support, including creating a 

community of practice, and investigate recipients who are violating these requirements.

Other Select Areas of Civil Rights Enforcement

Funding is needed in the following areas to conduct compliance reviews and/or provide 

technical assistance:

Access to College- and Career-Preparatory Courses. In some school districts, college-prep, 

International Baccalaureate, and Advanced Placement courses are not readily available in 

schools with large minority populations, and minority students are often underrepresented in 

such courses. OCR will continue to engage in compliance reviews and technical assistance 

activities to ensure equal access to programs that make students ready for college.

Protection of English Language Learners (ELL). OCR will continue its enforcement and 

technical assistance activities to ensure recipients comply with their obligations under Title VI 

and the Supreme Court’s ruling in Lau v. Nichols to provide appropriate access and services 

to students who are ELL.

Protection of Students with Disabilities. Pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 

1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, OCR will continue to ensure that 

students with disabilities are not denied the opportunity to participate in and benefit from a 

school district’s programs and activities. This includes ensuring that schools properly 

evaluate students with food allergies and other health impairments, determining technology 
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needs, and giving students with disabilities equitable access to athletic programs and 

activities.

Reduction of Discriminatory Bullying, Harassment and Violence. OCR will continue to ensure 

that all students are protected against bullying, harassment and violence on the basis of race, 

color, national origin, sex (including gender stereotypes and gender-nonconformity) and 

disability and that schools act promptly, vigorously and equitably to ensure student safety.