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**New Additions, Revised Publications, and Recent Items of Interest**

 | 2015  | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 |

**2015**
-     April 30, 2015:   Report on OCR’s FY 13-14 Activities . Report to the President, Secretary of Education, and Congress | Protecting Civil Rights, Advancing Equity    PDF  (4.15M)

- April 24, 2015:  ( Press Release ) Dear Colleague Letter    PDF  (351K)  | En español    PDF  (56K), from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon to school districts, colleges, and universities reminding them of their obligation to designate a Title IX coordinator. The Dear Colleague Letter  is accompanied by a letter to Title IX coordinators that provides them with more information about their role and a Title IX resource guide that includes  an overview of Title IX’s requirements with respect to several key issues. The Dear Colleague Letter    PDF  (351K)  | En español    PDF  (56K), the letter to Title IX coordinators    PDF  (298K)  | En español    PDF  (25K) and the Title IX Resource Guide    PDF  (501K)  | En español    PDF  (285K) are available at  www2.ed.gov/policy/rights/guid/ocr/title-ix-coordinators.html .

-  March 18, 2015: OCR Fact Sheet entitled “Addressing the Risk of Measles in Schools while Protecting the Civil  Rights of Students with Disabilities.”   PDF (146K). The Fact Sheet addresses how  school officials can implement recommendations and resources from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)   related to protecting children and their families from measles without discriminating on the basis of disability, particularly in the case of students  who are medically unable to receive a vaccine because of a disability, and  explains what school officials must do to ensure continuity of learning if a student is legitimately excluded from school.  Other resources on measles can be found at rems.ed.gov/KeepSchoolsSafeFromDiseases.aspx. 

- February 19, 2015: Notice –OCR is now posting its updated Case Processing Manual (CPM)            PDF  (429K), which replaces the January 2010 version of the CPM.

-  January 7, 2015: (Press Release) Dear Colleague Letter          PDF (499K)         | En español  PDF (809K)         from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon, and Vanita Gupta Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice, regarding schools’ obligations to ensure that English Learner (EL) students can participate meaningfully and equally in school and to communicate information to limited English proficient (LEP) parents in a language they can understand. The guidance, fact sheets, and other resources   (including translated versions of the guidance and fact sheets) are   available on OCR’s EL Students and LEP Parents web page. 

**2014**
-  December 16, 2014: OCR Fact Sheet entitled  “Implementing CDC’s Ebola Guidance for Schools while Protecting the Civil  Rights of Students and Others”  PDF (158K).  The Fact Sheet addresses how  school officials can implement Ebola guidance from the Centers for Disease  Control and Prevention (CDC)  without discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, or  disability; explains what school officials must do to ensure a continuity of  learning if a student is legitimately excluded from school; and reminds school  officials of their responsibility to respond to bullying and harassment.   Other resources on Ebola can be found at www.ed.gov/ebola-response. 

-  December 8, 2014: Dear Colleague Letter  PDF (676K) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon and Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights, Vanita Gupta, U.S. Department of Justice, concerning the applicability of Federal civil rights laws to juvenile justice residential facilities. The letter provides a reminder that juvenile justice residential facilities receiving Federal funds are subject to the same Federal civil rights obligations as all other public schools, and highlights some of the legal requirements related to access to academic coursework and career and vocational training, students with disabilities, English language learners, and the administration of discipline. 

-  December 1, 2014: (Press Release) Questions and Answers on Title IX and Single-Sex Elementary and Secondary Classes and Extracurricular Activities PDF (544K). These questions and answers clarify the legal requirements under the Department’s Title IX regulations governing single-sex elementary and secondary classes and extracurricular activities.
-  November 12, 2014: Dear Colleague letter PDF (159K) and accompanying Frequently Asked  Questions document (FAQ)  PDF (418K) from Assistant Secretary for Civil  Rights Catherine E. Lhamon, Acting Assistant Secretary for Special Education  and Rehabilitative Services Michael K. Yudin, and Vanita Gupta, Acting Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights,  U.S. Department of Justice, concerning effective communication  for students with hearing, vision, or speech disabilities in public elementary  and secondary schools.   Dear Colleague  Letter PDF (159K) | En  español  PDF (159K)  FAQ PDF (418K)   Parent Fact Sheet  PDF (103K) | En  español PDF (103K) 

-  October 21, 2014: (Press Release) Dear Colleague letter PDF (363K) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon, concerning  the obligation of elementary and secondary schools to respond to the bullying  of students with disabilities, including those students who are not eligible  for services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act but are  entitled to services under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The guidance  discusses the actions schools must take when bullying interferes with the  education of a student with a disability who is bullied on any basis, and  provides insight into how OCR analyzes complaints involving bullying of  students with disabilities.    Dear Colleague  Letter PDF (363K) | En  español  PDF (388K)  Fact Sheet PDF (88K) | En  español PDF (40K) 

-  October 1, 2014: (Press Release) Dear Colleague letter PDF (469K) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon about ensuring students have equal access to educational resources without regard to race, color, or  national origin.  The guidance, fact sheet, and resources for technical assistance are also available on the Resource Comparability Materials homepage.  Dear Colleague  Letter PDF (469K) | En  español  PDF (308K)  Fact Sheet PDF (179K) | En  español PDF (510K)  | Chinese simplified PDF (299K)  | Chinese traditional PDF (431K)  | Korean PDF (352K)  | Russian PDF (254K)  | Tagalog  PDF (180K)  | Vietnamese PDF (233K)    Press Release | En español  

-  May 14, 2014:  (Press Release) Dear Colleague Letter PDF (179K) from Assistant Secretary for  Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon, concerning the applicability of Federal civil  rights laws to charter schools. The letter provides a reminder that charter  schools are subject to the same Federal civil rights obligations as all other  public schools, and highlights some of the legal requirements related to  admissions, student discipline, students with disabilities, and English language learners. "Dear    Colleague" letter     PDF   (179K)    | En español    PDF   (186K)

-  May 8, 2014: (Press Release) "Dear    Colleague" letter PDF (172K) (May 8, 2014) from Assistant Secretary  for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon, Deputy General Counsel Philip H.  Rosenfelt, U.S. Department of Education, and Jocelyn Samuels, Acting Assistant  Attorney General for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice, regarding  schools' enrollment procedures and the obligation to enroll all residents of  school age regardless of their race, color, national origin, immigration, or  citizenship status.     "Dear    Colleague" letter     PDF  (172K)    | En español    PDF  (177K)    | Arabic    PDF  (269K)    | Chinese    PDF  (230K) | Korean    PDF  (244K)     | Tagalog    PDF  (155K)     | Vietnamese    PDF  (214K)      Questions         and Answers about Dear Colleague PDF (326K)    | En español PDF (196K) | Arabic PDF (234K) | Chinese PDF (259K) | Korean PDF (386K) | Tagalog PDF (185K) | Vietnamese PDF (314K)         Fact        Sheet about Dear Colleague    PDF  (569K)        | En español    PDF  (237K)  | Arabic    PDF  (203K)  | Chinese    PDF  (253K) | Korean    PDF  (289K)  | Tagalog    PDF  (156K)  | Vietnamese    PDF  (248K) 

-  May 6, 2014:  Dear Colleague Letter  PDF (99K) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon, Philip H.  Rosenfelt, Deputy General Counsel, U.S. Department of Education, and Acting  Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels, U.S. Department of Justice,  concerning the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in *Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative  Action*. The letter provides information about the *Schuette* decision and reiterates the Departments’ support for the voluntary use of race  and ethnicity to achieve diversity in education. 

- April 29, 2014: ( Press Release ) Questions and Answers on Title IX and  Sexual Violence      PDF  (867K). These questions and answers further clarify  the legal requirements under Title IX articulated in the  April 4, 2011 Dear Colleague letter on  Sexual Violence  and the January 19, 2001 Revised Sexual  Harassment Guidance    PDF  (181K) and provide recommendations for addressing  allegations of sexual violence.     Questions and Answers  PDF (867K)  Know Your Rights about Title IX  and Sexual Violence  PDF (551K)  | En español PDF (551K) | Chinese PDF (338K) | Korean PDF (272K) | Vietnamese PDF (236K) 

- March 21, 2014: ( Press Release ) The Office for Civil       Rights (OCR) released today the data from the 2011-12 Civil Rights Data       Collection (CRDC). The data are available to the public at  http://ocrdata.ed.gov  in a privacy-protected format. The CRDC for the 2011-12 school year was       collected from every public       school and school district in the country.    

OCR has issued four documents analyzing key aspects of the 2011-12 data:

      - Data Snapshot:  Discipline     PDF  (2.10M)
      - Data Snapshot:  Early Learning     PDF  (1.6M)
      - Data Snapshot:  College and Career Readiness     PDF  (2.7M)
      - Data Snapshot:  Teacher Equity     PDF  (2.1M)

The OCR data is self-reported by districts. Any data updates will be made available at http://ocrdata.ed.gov

Information on the collection is available below:

      - 2011-12 CRDC Table  Layouts with Definitions     MS WORD  (695K) 
      - 2011-12 CRDC Questions and Answers

- January 8, 2014: ( Press Release )  “Dear Colleague” letter     PDF  (587K) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon,  U.S. Department of Education, and Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn  Samuels, U.S. Department of Justice, concerning the nondiscriminatory  administration of school discipline.  The letter provides information describing how  schools can meet their obligations under federal law to administer student  discipline without discriminating on the basis of race, color, or national  origin.  The letter is part of the Departments’ school  discipline guidance package 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. For  more information on the Departments’ school discipline guidance package please  use link at   http://www.ed.gov/school-discipline/ .
"Dear Colleague" letter  | En español  PDF (644K) 

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**2013**
-  December 23, 2013:  Posting of state and national estimations for the 2009-10 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) on the CRDC website at http://ocrdata.ed.gov.  On December 23, 2013 the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) posted files containing state and national estimations based on the 2009-10 school year CRDC data from a sample of our nation’s public schools on OCR’s website for the CRDC.	    The 2009-10 school year CRDC surveyed a sample of approximately 7,000 public school districts and over 72,000 public schools, representing about 85% of the country’s public school students. OCR developed the state and national estimates to approximate what the results of this survey might have been at the state and national level if every public school had been surveyed. The school and district level data for the 2009-10 CRDC has been available on http://ocrdata.ed.gov since March 2012.	    The technical notes available at http://ocrdata.ed.gov provide some caveats and considerations that users should take into account when using the state and national estimations, particularly for items collected for the first time in the 2009-10 school year. 

- September 27, 2013: ( Press Release )  “Dear Colleague” letter  from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon, U.S. Department of Education, and Acting Assistant Attorney General Jocelyn Samuels, U.S. Department of Justice, concerning the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in  Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin . The letter and accompanying  Questions and Answers  provides information about the  Fisher  decision and reiterates the Departments’ support for the voluntary use of race and ethnicity to achieve diversity in education.
"Dear Colleague" letter   PDF (282K) | En español PDF (253K) 
Questions and Answers   PDF (305K) | En español PDF (334K)

- June 25, 2013 ( Press Release )  “Dear  Colleague” Letter  and  Pamphlet: Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of  1972  (June 25, 2013) from Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Seth Galanter. This pamphlet clarifies the specific requirements of Title IX applicable to pregnant and parenting students. The pamphlet contains a FAQ section that explains the Title IX requirements and provides examples to ensure that schools understand their obligations and pregnant and parenting students understand their rights under  Title IX. The pamphlet also provides information on strategies that educators may use and programs schools can develop to address the educational needs of students who become pregnant or have children. It also provides examples of promising practices designed to support pregnant and parenting students that schools may choose to implement.
"Dear Colleague" letter 
PDF
 (297K) 
 Supporting the Academic Success of Pregnant and Parenting Students
Under Title IX of  the Education Amendments of 1972 
PDF
 (251K)
Know Your RightsPDF (412K) | En españolPDF (410K) about Dear Colleague and Pamphlet 

- June 12, 2013: ( Press Release ) Joint OCR/DOJ/HHS  "Dear Colleague" Letter  (June 12, 2013), addressing the rights of students with hepatitis B in postsecondary medical, dental, nursing, and other health-related programs. The letter discusses the latest recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the participation of students with hepatitis B in health-related schools, and how the CDC recommendations relate to the federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of disability, race, color, and national origin.
"Dear Colleague" letter 
PDF
 (108K)

- April 24, 2013: ( "Dear Colleague" Letter)   from Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Seth Galanter,  concerning the prohibition against retaliation under Federal civil rights laws.  The letter clarifies the basic principles of retaliation law and describes  OCR’s methods of enforcement.
"Dear    Colleague" letter 
PDF
 (64K)

- January 25, 2013: ( Press Release ) ( "Dear Colleague" Letter)  (January 25, 2013) from Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Seth Galanter, addressing equal access to extracurricular athletics for students with disabilities.  The Dear Colleague letter provides an overview of the obligations of public elementary and secondary schools under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504), and the Department’s Section 504 regulations; cautions against making decisions based on presumptions and stereotypes; details the specific Section 504 regulations that require students with disabilities to have an equal opportunity for participation in nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities; and discusses the provision of separate or different athletic opportunities.
"Dear    Colleague" letter 
PDF
 (485K)
    'Fast Facts' about Dear Colleague Letter 
Fact Sheet
PDF
 (245K) | 
En español
PDF
 (241K) 

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**2012**
-  March 14, 2012:  The Department of Education has published in  the Federal Register a Notice of Interpretation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation  Act of 1973 for new construction and alterations in light of recent revisions,  by the Department of Justice, of regulations implementing Title II of the  Americans with Disabilities Act.   PDF (237K) TEXT (36K) 

- March 6, 2012: ( Press Release ) The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released today the Part 2 data from the 2009-2010 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). The data are available to the public at  http://ocrdata.ed.gov  in a privacy-protected format. The 2009-10 sample had approximately 7,000 school districts and 72,000 schools.     	     Data Summary    PDF  (805K)	     The OCR data is self-reported by districts.  Any data updates will be made available at  http://ocrdata.ed.gov     	     	     2009-10 CRDC Table Layouts with Definitions    MS WORD  (687K)     2009-10 CRDC Questions and Answers         About the CRDC    MS WORD  (34K)

- January 19, 2012: ( Press Release ) ( "Dear Colleague" Letter )  (January 19, 2012) to elementary and secondary education officials with attached  Frequently Asked Questions document (FAQ) , from  Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali.  The Dear Colleague  letter and FAQ discuss the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of  2008 (Amendments Act), Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) in the context of students  with disabilities attending public elementary and secondary schools.  The  FAQ addresses the broadened definition of disability and the changes made by  the Amendments Act; explores how the Amendments Act affects Section 504;  discusses various obligations of school districts, including the requirement to  evaluate students to determine eligibility for regular or special education and  related aids and services; and addresses how OCR evaluates compliance with  Title II of the ADA and Section 504 in light of the Amendments Act.      "Dear  Colleague" letter    PDF  (247K)        FAQ    PDF  (396K) 

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**2011**
- December 2, 2011: ( Press Release ,  En español    PDF  (83K),   Chinese    PDF  (178K), Korean    PDF  (149K), Tagalog    PDF  (26K), Vietnamese    PDF  (153K))       ( "Dear      Colleague" Letter ) ( K-12      Guidance )    ( Postsecondary    Guidance ) (December 2, 2011) from Assistant Secretary for    Civil Rights, Russlynn Ali, and U.S. Department of Justice, Assistant Attorney    General, Thomas E. Perez. The letter explains that the U.S. Department of    Education and the U.S. Department of Justice are jointly issuing guidance    to help schools, colleges, and universities lawfully achieve compelling interests    in diversity, and for K-12 schools, the additional compelling interest in    avoiding racial isolation.  The guidance is presented in two documents,    one for elementary and secondary schools and the other for postsecondary    institutions. 

-  June 30, 2011: (Press        Release,     En        español) The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released      today the Part 1 data from the 2009-2010 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC).      The data are available to the public at http://ocrdata.ed.gov in      a privacy-protected format. The 2009-10 sample had approximately 7,000      school districts and 72,000 schools. The 2009-2010 CRDC was conducted in      two parts. The data from Part 2 will be released in the fall. 2009-10 CRDC Table Layouts with Definitions MS WORD (687K)2009-10 CRDC Questions and Answers    About the CRDC     MS WORD (48K) 

- May 26, 2011: (Press      Release) "Dear Colleague" letters (May 26, 2011)      to elementary      and secondary education officials and postsecondary      education officials, with attached Frequently      Asked Questions document  (FAQ), from      Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali.  The Dear Colleague      letters and FAQ follow-up on a June 29, 2010 letter, sent by the U.S. Department      of Education and the U.S. Department of Justice to college and university      presidents, regarding the use of electronic book readers and other emerging      technologies in compliance with civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination      on the basis of disability.  The May 26, 2011 Dear Colleague letters and      FAQ answer questions about the obligations of educational institutions      that provide benefits to students by means of these technologies.   "Dear Colleague" letter to elementary and secondary education officialsPDF (79K)        "Dear Colleague" letter to postsecondary education officials PDF (79K)    FAQ PDF (181K) 

-  May 6, 2011: "Dear          Colleague" letter (May 6, 2011) **(Archived)** from  Assistant Secretary          for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali, General Counsel Charles P. Rose, U.S.          Department of Education, and Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General          for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Justice, regarding schools' enrollment          procedures.     "Dear    Colleague" letter     PDF  (130K)    | En español    PDF  (131K)    | Arabic    PDF  (161K)     | Chinese    PDF  (315K)      | Korean    PDF  (327K)    | Tagalog    PDF  (126K)    | Vietnamese    PDF  (165K)         Fact        Sheet  about Dear Colleague    PDF  (145K)        | En español    PDF  (142K)        | Arabic    PDF  (292K)     | Chinese    PDF  (279K)     | Korean    PDF  (249K)     |  Tagalog    PDF  (113K)     | Vietnamese    PDF  (154K)     Questions         and Answers about Dear Colleague PDF (87K)  

-  April 4, 2011: (Press Release) "Dear          colleague" letter (April 4, 2011) from Assistant Secretary          for Civil Rights, Russlynn Ali.  The letter provides guidance and examples          about Title IX requirements and how they relate to sexual harassment          and sexual violence, discusses proactive efforts schools can take to          prevent sexual violence and educate employees and students, and provides          examples of the types of remedies schools and OCR may use to respond    to sexual violence.   "Dear    Colleague" letter    PDF  (245K)      | En español    PDF  (515K)      Fact         Sheet about     Dear Colleague PDF (121K)     | En español PDF (364K)     | Chinese PDF (370K)     | Korean PDF (427K)     |  Tagalog PDF (155K)     | Vietnamese PDF (156K)Know      Your Rightsabout     Dear Colleague PDF (138K) | En español PDF (174K) | Chinese PDF (488K) | Korean PDF (430K) | Tagalog PDF (182K) | Vietnamese PDF (170K) 

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**2010**
-  October 26, 2010: (Press          Release,     En          español, Arabic  PDF (81K),          Chinese PDF (167K),          Korean PDF (197K),          Punjabi PDF (67K), Tagalog PDF (30K),           Vietnamese PDF (74K))           "Dear          Colleague" letter (October 26, 2010) from Assistant Secretary          for Civil Rights, Russlynn Ali, concerning recipients' obligations          to protect students from student-on-student harassment on the basis          of sex; race, color and national origin; and disability.  The letter          clarifies the relationship between bullying and discriminatory harassment,          provides examples of harassment, and illustrates how a school should          respond in each case.   "Dear    Colleague" letter       PDF  (296K)  |    En español    PDF  (318K)     Fact         Sheet about     Dear Colleague PDF (117K)     | En español PDF (162K)     | Arabic  PDF (96K)     | Chinese PDF (252K)     | Korean PDF (259K)     | Punjabi PDF (133K)     | Tagalog PDF (94K)     | Vietnamese PDF (174K) 
-  August 6, 2010: The Department of Education submitted notices for publication      within the Federal Register announcing the Secretary's creation of a new      commission to address fiscal inequities in K-12 schools.  The Equity      and Excellence Commission will be housed within the Office for Civil Rights      and will collect information, analyze issues, and obtain broad public input      regarding how the Federal government can increase educational opportunity      by improving school funding equity.  The Department is also calling    for nominations for the 15-member commission.   Federal        Register Establishment NoticePDF (59K)  Federal      Register Nomination NoticePDF (52K) 
-  June 29, 2010: (Press Release) "Dear          Colleague" letter (June 29, 2010) from Assistant Secretary          for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali and Assistant Attorney General for Civil          Rights Thomas E. Perez, U.S. Department of Justice, concerning the          obligation of colleges and universities to ensure that students with          disabilities have equal access to emerging technologies in education.           The letter, a joint guidance from the Departments of Justice and Education,          reminds colleges and universities of the legal standards in regard          to accessibility, and applies those standards to electronic book readers.           The letter states that it is impermissible under federal law for colleges          and universities to use electronic book readers  or similar technology          in a teaching or classroom environment as long as the device remains          inaccessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision and reasonable          accommodation or modification for this type of technology do not exist          or are not available.  "Dear    Colleague" letter    PDF  (150K)     Questions         and Answers about Dear Colleague PDF (300K) 
-  April 20, 2010: (Press Release) "Dear          Colleague" letter (April 20, 2010) from      Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Russlynn Ali providing recipients      with information about the standards OCR uses to assess compliance with      Part Three of the "three-part test."  The test is used to determine whether      institutions are meeting the Title IX regulatory requirement to accommodate      students' athletic interests and abilities.  The Dear Colleague letter      withdraws the following documents issued by OCR in 2005:  Additional Clarification      of Intercollegiate Athletics Policy: Three Part Test – Part Three; User's      Guide to Student Interest Surveys under Title IX, including the prototype      survey; and the technical report.  The Dear Colleague letter reaffirms,      and provides clarification of, the multiple indicators OCR evaluates to      determine whether an institution is in compliance with Part Three.  The      letter also provides technical assistance on the nondiscriminatory design      and implementation of a survey as one method to assess student interest      under Part Three.       "Dear    Colleague" letter     PDF  (4.2M)            Fact Sheet    PDF  (100K)    Questions and Answers about Dear Colleague 
-  March 16, 2010:  *Important Changes to the Civil Rights Data Collection*.      The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has made important changes to the 2009-10      Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC). New CRDC data items will enhance OCR's      ability to ensure equal educational opportunity for the Nation's students,      and provide a valuable resource for school administrators, policymakers,      researchers, and parents.  The new data items cover critical topics such as students' participation      in algebra and other college-preparatory subjects, retention, teacher experience/absenteeism,      school counselors, school funding, harassment, restraint/seclusion, SAT/ACT      participation, desegregations plans, access to kindergarten and pre-kindergarten      programs, and additional information related to discipline. Most of the student      data collected by the CRDC will be disaggregated by race, sex, disability,      and limited English proficient status. Along with these changes, OCR streamlined      the survey by removing several other data items. For 2009-10, the CRDC sample      will expand from 6,000 to 7,000 school districts, which includes all districts      with over 3,000 students. The survey, which will be conducted in two parts      (Spring and Fall 2010), will collect data for the 2009-10 school year.   OCR has also launched a new website, http://ocrdata.ed.gov,    to display the CRDC data. The new website will make the data more accessible    to a wide variety of users. The website contains CRDC data from 2000, 2004    and 2006, and will, in the future, include the 2009-10 CRDC data. The website    enhancement was undertaken as part of the Department's on-going commitment    to transparency and accessibility.   Civil Rights Data Collection Part 1 and Part 2 MS    Word (707K) 2009-10  2009-10 Civil Rights Data Collection Fact Sheet 
-  January 8, 2010:  Notice -- OCR is now posting its updated Case    Processing Manual (CPM), which replaces the May 2008 version of the CPM.  

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**2009**

- March 27, 2009: Protecting    Students With Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504    and the Education of Children with Disabilities (Revised March 2009).  OCR    posted a revised version of this Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document    on its website.  The primary purpose of  these revisions is to incorporate information about The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (Amendments Act),  effective January 1, 2009, which amends the Americans with Disabilities Act  of 1990 (ADA) and includes a conforming amendment to the Rehabilitation Act  of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act) that affects the meaning of the term disability  in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504). The Amendments Act  broadens the interpretation of disability. 
-  January 16,  2009:  PDF (3.39M) Officefor Civil Rights Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Years 2007-08 
-  January 13, 2009: "Dear Colleague" letter (January 13, 2009) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe, concerning the   obligation of recipients of federal financial assistance from, or funds made   available through, the Department to submit a signed assurance of compliance   with the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act and the other laws OCR enforces.   This letter is a subsequent request to recipients for whom OCR has no record of   receiving a signed assurance.  The letter contains instructions for completion,   and encloses a blank copy of the Assurance of Compliance – Civil Rights   Certificate for submission to OCR.      PDF (1.7M)     Revised Assurance of Compliance -- Civil Rights Certificate PDF (106K)  
-  January 8, 2009: "Dear Colleague" letter (January 8, 2009) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights  Stephanie Monroe providing Chief State School Officers, State educational  agencies, and local educational agencies with information to ensure the  provisions of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by  the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, regarding access to, participation in,  and administration of, public school choice, are implemented in a  nondiscriminatory manner that is consistent with the requirements of Title VI  of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations.      PDF (4.8M) 

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**2008**

- December 29, 2008: The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008 (Amendments Act), effective January 1, 2009, amends the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and includes a conforming amendment to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehabilitation Act) that affects the meaning of the term disability in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504). The Amendments Act retains the definition of disability under Section 504 and the ADA but emphasizes that the definition should be interpreted broadly.  Among other things, the Amendments Act directs that the ameliorating effects of mitigating measures (other than ordinary eyeglasses or contact lenses) not be considered in determining whether an individual has a disability; expands the scope of "major life activities" by providing a non-exhaustive list of general activities and a non-exhaustive list of major bodily functions; clarifies that an impairment that is episodic or in remission is a disability if it would substantially limit a major life activity when active; and clarifies the meaning of "regarded as" having a disability, including that individuals "regarded as" having a disability are not entitled to reasonable accommodations or reasonable modifications.  OCR is evaluating the impact of the Amendments Act on OCR's enforcement responsibilities under Section 504 and under Title II of the ADA, including whether any changes in regulations, guidance, or other publications are appropriate. 
-  December 01, 2008:  Sexual Harassment: It's Not Academic (September 2008) This revised pamphlet contains  information for students, parents, school administrators, school employees, and  others on recognizing and addressing sexual harassment under Title IX as it is  interpreted by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. PDF (10M) 
-  October 17 , 2008: "Dear Colleague" letter    (October 17, 2008) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights  Stephanie Monroe providing State education agencies and local education  agencies with information regarding disclosure of disability on report cards  and transcripts for students with disabilities attending public elementary and  secondary schools.  The purpose of this  guidance is to clarify how federal laws apply to statements on report cards and  transcripts when these statements identify students as students with  disabilities.  PDF (7M) 
-  September 17 , 2008: "Dear Colleague" letter    (September 17, 2008) from  Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe providing postsecondary  institutions, State educational agencies, and local educational agencies with  information about how OCR determines which athletic activities can be counted  under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), 20 U.S.C. 1681  et seq.  The purpose of this guidance is  to ensure that male and female students are provided equal opportunities to  participate in intercollegiate and interscholastic athletics programs  consistent with Title IX and its implementing regulations in 34 CFR Part 106. PDF (2.4M) 
-  August 28, 2008: "Dear      Colleague" letter (August 28, 2008) **(Withdrawn)** from Assistant Secretary for      Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe addressing Title VI and how OCR assesses      the use of race in assigning students to elementary and secondary schools.  PDF (124K) 
-  August 28, 2008: "Dear      Colleague" letter (August 28, 2008) **(Withdrawn)** from Assistant Secretary for      Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe addressing Title VI and how OCR assesses      the use of race in the context of postsecondary student admissions.  PDF (124K) 
-  July 25, 2008: "Dear     Colleague" letter (July 25, 2008) from  Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe commemorating  the 18th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  This letter discusses the broad impact that  Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) and the ADA have had on aspects of education.  The linked pamphlet “*So You Want to Go Back to School*” (July 2008) provides information  for wounded veterans who are qualified individuals with disabilities under  Section 504 and ADA with an overview of their rights and responsibilities  regarding academic adjustments, auxiliary aids, and reasonable modifications to  school policies and practices at postsecondary institutions.  PDF (1.61M) 
-  June 4, 2008: "Dear Colleague" letter (May 22, 2008) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe providing State   educational agencies and local educational agencies with information regarding   access to, admission into, and the administration of Advanced Placement and   other challenging academic courses, on a nondiscriminatory basis consistent with   Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations at 34   C.F.R. Part 100. PDF (3.6M) 
-  *May 9 ,2008*: Notice  - OCR is now posting its revised Case Processing  Manual (CPM), which replaces the Case Resolution and Investigation Manual  (CRIM).       Case Processing Manual (CPM) (March 2008)  

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**2007**

-  December 26, 2007: "Dear Colleague" letter (December 26, 2007) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe addressing the rights of students with disabilities to participate in schools' and school districts' accelerated programs, such as Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate classes or programs. PDF (2.8M)  
-  August 2,  2007:  Office       for Civil Rights Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2006PDF (6.1M)  
-  June 25, 2007: "Dear Colleague" letter (June 25, 2007) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe addressing the Title IX regulatory requirements related to nondiscriminatory treatment of pregnant students in the context of athletic scholarships. PDF (191K) 
-  June 22, 2007: "Dear Colleague" letter (June 22, 2007) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe commemorating the 35th anniversary of Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 on June 23, 2007. This letter discusses the broad impact that Title IX has had on aspects of education. PDF (2.4M)  
-  March 16, 2007: "Dear Colleague" letter and "Dear Parent" letter (March 16, 2007) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe, providing information about the legal rights and responsibilities of students with disabilities as they transition from high school to institutions of postsecondary education. Distributed with the letters is a question and answer document, Transition of Students with Disabilities to Postsecondary Education: A Guide for High School Educators (March 16, 2007) and Revised Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities (Revised March 2007).PDF (568K) "Dear Colleague" letterPDF (306K) "Dear Parent " letter 
-  *January 31, 2007:*"Dear Colleague" letter (January 31, 2007) from Assistant Secretary for  Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe, notifying recipients of the new single-sex  regulations, published in the Federal Register on October 25, 2006, that  provides additional flexibility to recipients to offer non-vocational  elementary and secondary education on a single-sex basis while ensuring that  non-vocational single-sex education is provided consistent with the  nondiscrimination requirements of Title IX.   It also informs recipients of a dedicated email address established by  OCR to receive questions and requests for technical assistance in connection  with these new requirements.PDF (3.8M) "Dear Colleague" letter and new regulatory provisions 

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**2006**

-  *October 31,  2006*: Office       for Civil Rights Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2005 
-  October 25, 2006:  Final regulatory amendments to the Department's regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 to permit additional options for single-sex classes, extracurricular activities, and schools at the elementary and secondary education levels are published in the Federal Register.  These amendments take effect November 24, 2006.PDF (167K) Final regulatory amendments to the Department's regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972. 
-  *July 26,2006:*"Dear Colleague" letter  (July 21, 2006) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe providing information about the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act of 2001, part of No Child Left Behind, and the requirement to provide assurances of compliance with this law. The letter encloses a blank copy of OCR's revised Assurance of Compliance -- Civil Rights Certificate. PDF (1.18M) "Dear Colleague" letterPDF (106K) Revised Assurance of Compliance -- Civil Rights Certificate
-  *July 13, 2006:*Students     with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and     Responsibilities This pamphlet contains information for high school students     with disabilities who plan to continue their education in postsecondary schools.     Revised June 2006. 
-  *March 24, 2006*: Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act - Final Regulations. The final regulations for the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, part of No Child Left Behind, were published in the Federal Register.   
-  *January 26, 2006*: "Dear Colleague" letter (January 25, 2006) from Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Stephanie Monroe, reminding recipients of the standards applicable to OCR's enforcement of compliance in cases raising sexual harassment issues.  Revised Sexual Harassment Guidance: Harassment of Students by School Employees, Other Students, or Third Parties (January  19, 2001).PDF (1.36M) "Dear Colleague" letter PDF (181K) Revised Sexual Harassment Guidance: Harassment of Students by School Employees, Other Students, or Third Parties (January, 2001). 

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**2005**

-  *July 5, 2005:*Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities This pamphlet contains information for high school students with disabilities who plan to continue their education in postsecondary schools. Revised May 2005. 
-  *May 17, 2005*: Case Resolution and Investigation Manual 
-  *April 14, 2005*: Joint "Dear Colleague" Letter to Chief State School Officers concerning the document "Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel," co-authored by the Office for Civil Rights and published in 2003 under the auspices of the National Institutes for Health and the Centers for Disease Control. PDF (165KB) 
-  *January 5, 2005*: Office for Civil Rights Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2003 

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**2004**

-  *October 13, 2004*: The Department forwarded to the Federal Register the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) regarding the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Once the proposed regulations are published, a 45-day public comment period will begin. 
-  *September 20, 2004*: "Dear Colleague" letter addressing the issue of civil rights violations inherent in allocation of extracurricular awards or honors on the basis of race, or violations inherent in racially separate proms or dances.  
-  *September 13, 2004*: "Dear Colleague" letter addressing the right of all students, including students of faith, to be free from discrimination in our schools and colleges under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, in cases where such discrimination may be commingled with religious discrimination. 
-  *August 4, 2004*: "Dear Colleague" letter reminding postsecondary institutions of Title IX responsibilities. 
-  *July 1, 2004*:  Realignment of States: OCR announces a realignment of several states between enforcement offices. 
-  *April 26, 2004*:  "Dear Colleague" letter reminding chief state school officers and state and local educational agencies of Title IX responsibilities. 
-  *March 3, 2004*: Draft *Notice of Proposed Rulemaking* regarding single-sex schools and classes. 

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**2003**

-  *July 28, 2003* First Amendment: "Dear Colleague" letter reaffirming that OCR's regulations and policies do not require or prescribe speech, conduct or harassment codes that impair the exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment. 
-  *July 11, 2003*: *Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel*, co-authored by the Office for Civil Rights, this guide was published under the auspices of the National Institutes for Health and the Centers for Disease Control.  
-  *July 11, 2003*: Further     Clarification of Intercollegiate Athletics Policy Guidance Regarding Title    IX  Compliance. Dear Colleague letter from Assistant Secretary for Civil    Rights  Gerald Reynolds PDF 

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**2002**

-  *11-15-2002* An Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) regarding the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act was published in the Federal Register, pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The ANPRM requests comments from the public, within 30 days, on issues to be considered in developing any proposed regulations. 
-  *10-22-2002*No Child Left Behind: Providing Educational Opportunity for American Indian and Alaska Native Students . This OCR-sponsored conference, developed in collaboration with the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education (OESE), took place on October 22-23, 2002, in the Washington DC area. The conference focused on the sharing of good educational practices in areas such as reading; standards, assessment, and accountability; parental options; and teacher quality with a focus on American Indian and Alaska Native students. 
-  *7-30-2002*Students with Disabilities Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities This pamphlet contains information for high school students with disabilities who plan to continue their education in postsecondary schools. 
-  *5-24-2002*2000 Elementary and Secondary School Survey This Survey provides information about the enrollment of - and educational services to - students in public schools in every state by race/ethnicity, sex, and disability. 
-  *5-8-2002* A Notice of Intent to Regulate and Guidelines regarding single-sex schools and classes was published in the Federal Register, pursuant to the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. The NOIR requests input from the public, within 60 days, on the circumstances under which single-sex education in elementary and secondary schools should be permitted. 
-  *5-6-2002* OCR is charged with enforcing the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act. A "Dear Colleague letter" has been issued. 
-  *3-29-2002*Gerald Reynolds appointed Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights. 

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**2001**

-  *11-01-2001* OCR's New York Office has relocated following the September   11 terrorist attacks. Please see our Contact    Us page for new contact information. 
-  *10-25-2001*Protecting Students with Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions about Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities. This set of FAQs was prepared by OCR in partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction and the Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services. 
-  *10-5-2001*Office for Civil Rights Annual Report to Congress for Fiscal Year 2000 
-  *9-19-2001*"Dear Colleague" letter regarding the prevention of harassment of students perceived to be Muslim or Arab American issued by Secretary Paige 
-  *6-22-2001*Government Performance Results Act: 2000 Performance Report and 2002 Program Annual Plan 

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Additional documents and publications can be found in the Reading Room.Archived documents from previous administrations may be found in the OCR Archives.

**Civil Rights Posters Available**

Free posters commemorating the 40th & 50th anniversary of Brown vs. Board   of Education are available at ED PUBS, Education Publications Center, U.S. Department   of Education, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398; or call in your request   toll-free: 1-877-433-7827 (1-877-4-ED-PUBS); or email your request to: edpubs@inet.ed.gov    be sure to include your name and mailing address. This offer is available   while supplies last.

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