Source: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaints-how.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 08:22:52+00:00

Document:
Below is a summary of OCR's complaint processing procedures. For additional information please see our Case Processing Manual.
Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, which prohibits denial of access to or other discrimination against the Boy Scouts or other Title 36 U.S.C. youth groups in public elementary schools, public secondary schools, local education agencies, and state education agencies that have a designated open forum or limited public forum.
OCR evaluates the written information that it receives to determine whether it constitutes a complaint that is subject to further processing. If so, OCR determines whether it can investigate the complaint. OCR makes this determination with respect to each allegation in the complaint. For example, OCR must determine whether OCR has legal authority to investigate the complaint; that is, whether the complaint alleges a violation of one or more of the laws OCR enforces. OCR must also determine whether the complaint is filed on time. Generally, a complaint must be filed with OCR within 180 calendar days of the date of the alleged discrimination.2 If the complaint is not filed on time, the complainant should provide the reason for the delay and request a waiver of this filing requirement. OCR will decide whether to grant the waiver. In addition, OCR will determine whether the complaint contains enough information about the alleged discrimination to proceed to investigation. If OCR needs more information in order to clarify the complaint, it will contact the complainant; and the complainant has 14 calendar days within which to respond to OCR’s request for information unless the complainant has requested additional time to provide the information.
If OCR determines that it will investigate the complaint, it will issue letters of notification to the complainant and the recipient. Opening a complaint for investigation in no way implies that OCR has made a determination with regard to the merits of the complaint. During the investigation, OCR is a neutral fact-finder. OCR will collect and analyze relevant evidence from the complainant, the recipient, and other sources, as appropriate. OCR will ensure that the actions it takes in investigations are legally sufficient, supported by evidence, and dispositive of the allegations raised in the complaint.
A preponderance of the evidence supports a conclusion that the recipient failed to comply with the law.
OCR’s determination will be explained in a Letter of Findings sent to the complainant and recipient. Letters of Findings contain fact-specific investigative findings and dispositions of individual cases. Letters of Findings are not formal statements of OCR policy and they should not be relied upon, cited, or construed as such. OCR’s formal policy statements are approved by a duly authorized OCR official and made available to the public.
If OCR determines that a recipient failed to comply with the civil rights law(s) that OCR enforces, OCR will contact the recipient and will attempt to secure the recipient’s willingness to negotiate a voluntary resolution agreement. If the recipient agrees to resolve the complaint, the recipient will negotiate and sign a written resolution agreement that describes the specific remedial actions that the recipient will undertake to address the area(s) of noncompliance identified by OCR. The terms and obligations of the resolution agreement, if fully performed, will remedy the identified violation(s) in compliance with applicable civil rights law(s). OCR will monitor the recipient’s implementation of the terms and obligations of the resolution agreement to verify that the remedial actions agreed to by the recipient are being properly implemented .
If the recipient does not agree to correct its noncompliance with the civil rights law(s) by entering into a resolution agreement, OCR may initiate proceedings to suspend, terminate, or refuse to grant or continue Federal financial assistance to the recipient, or may refer the case to the Department of Justice.
Facilitated Resolution Between the Parties (FRBP) allows the parties (the complainant and the recipient which is the subject of the complaint) an opportunity to resolve the complaint allegations quickly; generally, soon after the complaint has been opened for investigation. If both parties are willing to try this approach, and if OCR determines that FRBP is appropriate, OCR will facilitate settlement discussions between the parties and work with the parties to help them understand the legal standards and possible remedies. Staff assigned by OCR to conduct FRBP will not be the staff assigned to the investigation of the complaint.
OCR does not approve, sign or endorse any agreement reached between the parties as a result of FRBP, and OCR does not monitor the agreement. However, if the recipient does not comply with the terms of the agreement, the complainant may file another complaint with OCR within 180 days of the date of the original discrimination or within 60 days of the date the complainant learns of the failure to comply with the agreement, whichever date is later.
A complaint may also be resolved before the conclusion of an investigation, if the recipient expresses an interest in resolving the complaint and OCR determines that it is appropriate to resolve the complaint because OCR’s investigation has identified issues that can be addressed through a resolution agreement. The provisions of the resolution agreement must be tied to the allegations and the evidence obtained during the investigation, and will be consistent with applicable regulations. OCR will inform the recipient that this resolution process is voluntary before proceeding to resolution under this section, and will notify the complainant of the recipient’s interest in resolution. OCR will monitor a resolution agreement reached with the recipient before the conclusion of an investigation . After the recipient signs the resolution agreement, OCR will issue a Resolution Letter, which will address all allegations in the case resolved pursuant to CPM Section 302.
The complainant may have the right to file suit in Federal court, regardless of OCR’s findings. OCR does not represent the complainant in case processing, so if the complainant wishes to file a court action, he or she must do so through his or her own attorney or on his or her own through the court’s pro se clerk’s office.
OCR issues a finding in favor of the recipient. If this occurs, OCR will promptly notify the complainant and will provide additional information about the right to file for injunctive relief.
A recipient under the jurisdiction of the Department of Education may not intimidate, threaten, coerce, or retaliate against anyone who asserts a right protected by the civil rights laws that OCR enforces, or who cooperates in an investigation. Anyone who believes that he or she has been intimidated or retaliated against should file a complaint with OCR.
In order to investigate a complaint, OCR may need to collect and analyze personal information such as student records or employment records.
The Privacy Act of 1974, 5 U.S.C. § 552a (Privacy Act), Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. §1232g, and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. §552, govern the use of personal information that is submitted to all Federal agencies and their individual components, including OCR. The Privacy Act protects individuals from the misuse of personal information held by the Federal government. It applies to records that are maintained by the Federal government and that are retrieved from a system of records by the individual's name, social security number, or other personal identifier. It regulates the collection, maintenance, use and dissemination of personal information in records contained in systems of records of Federal government.
The information that OCR collects is analyzed by authorized personnel within the agency and will be used by OCR only for authorized civil rights compliance and enforcement activities. However, in order to investigate or resolve a complaint, OCR may need to reveal certain information to persons outside the agency to verify facts or gather additional information. Such details could include, for example, the name, age, or physical condition of the person who is the alleged subject of discrimination. Also, OCR may be required to reveal information requested under FOIA, which gives the public the right of access to records of Federal agencies. Disclosure will only be made as consistent with the Privacy Act, FERPA, and FOIA.
However, OCR can release certain information about your complaint to the press or general public, including the name of therecipient; the date your complaint was filed; the type of discrimination included in the complaint; the date the complaint was resolved, dismissed or closed; the basic reasons for OCR’s decision; or other related information. Any information OCR releases to the press or general public will not include the complainant’s name or the name of the person on whose behalf the complaint was filed.
FOIA gives the public the right of access to records of Federal agencies. Individuals may obtain items from many categories of records of the Federal government, not just materials that apply to them personally. OCR must honor requests for records under FOIA, with some exceptions. If records are covered by the Privacy Act they must be required to be released under FOIA. Generally, OCR is not required to release records during the case evaluation and investigation process or enforcement proceedings, if the release could reasonably be expected to interfere with or affect the ability of OCR to do its job. 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(7)(A). Also, a federal agency is not required to release records if they are pre-decisional documents that would be subject to certain privileges in litigation. See 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(5). A Federal agency may refuse a request for records if their release would or could reasonably be expected to result in an unwarranted invasion of privacy of an individual. 5 U.S.C. § 552(b)(6) and (7)(C), such as medical records, which may be denied where disclosure would be a clearly unwarranted invasion of privacy.
1 These procedures are a summary of OCR’s Case Processing Manual (CPM); the CPM contains more detailed explanations of OCR’s procedures.
2 Complaints that allege discrimination based on age are timely if filed with OCR within 180 calendar days of the date the complainant first knew about the alleged discrimination.

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