File: AC-R-2

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION AND COMPLIANCE WITH TITLE IX AND CHAPTER 622

Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 76, paragraph 5, commonly known as Chapter 622 states:

"No person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, disability, religion, national origin or sexual orientation."

Title of the Educational Amendments of 1972 states:

"No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance."

In general, this means that Diman must provide educational opportunities to all students equally.  The laws further require that Diman establish a procedure for students to register any complaints about discrimination or discriminatory practices if they feel they have been discriminated against.  The following procedure has been established at Diman to allow students a quick settlement of any complaint that may occur.

If you have a complaint or feel that you have been discriminated against because of your race, color, religion, national origin, sex, or sexual orientation register your complaint with your guidance counselor.  If, in a brief conference a satisfactory answer is not provided you, your counselor will provide you with a form so that you can file your grievance in writing.  When you have completed the form, return it to your counselor.  You will get a written response within three (3) school days.

If you are still not satisfied, you may within three (3) days register the written response with the Academic-Post Secondary Coordinator if the grievance emanates from the academic area, or with the Vocational Coordinator if the grievance emanates from the shop area, who in turn will respond to you within three (3) school days.

If you are still not satisfied, you may file your grievance with the Title IX and Chapter 622 Coordinator within three (3) school days who, in turn, will provide you with a written response within three (3) school days.

If you are still not satisfied, you may file your grievance with the Assistant Superintendent/Principal within three (3) school days who, in turn, will provide you with a written response within three (3) school days.

If you are still not satisfied with the response, you may file your grievance with the Superintendent-Director within three (3) school days.  The Superintendent-Director will provide you with a written response within ten (10) school days.

If you are not satisfied, you may appeal to the School Committee within five (5) school days. The School Committee will respond to the complaint, in writing, no later than five (5) days after the next regular meeting of the Committee.

For those who choose, a complaint in the alternative way may be registered directly with the Office of Civil Rights, RKO General Building, Boston, MA.  In addition, the School Committee has designated the Director of Guidance/Pupil Personnel Services as the compliance officer for both Title IX and Chapter 622 which are the Anti-Discrimination Laws.

If you have any general questions about either of these laws, you may direct those questions to him at his office in the school, telephone number 678-2891, extension 1500 or 1510.