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Policy AC
Non Discrimination/Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
The The South Portland Board of Education is committed to maintaining a workplace and learning environment that is free from illegal discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex, or other protected categories in its education programs and activities, as required by federal and state laws/regulations.
The Board of Education directs the school administration to implement a continuing program designed to prevent discrimination against all applicants, employees, students and other individuals having access, rights to school premises and activities to implement this policy.
Discrimination against and harassment of school employees, or candidates for employment because of actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ancestry or national origin, age, familial status, disability, or genetic information are prohibited.
Discrimination against and harassment of students because of actual or perceived race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, ancestry, physical or mental disability, or national origin are prohibited.
For the purpose of this policy, “race” includes traits associated with race, including but not limited to, hair texture, Afro hairstyles, and protective hairstyles, including braids, twists, and locs.
For the purpose of this policy “Sexual orientation” means a person’s actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality or homosexuality.
For the purpose of this policy "Gender identity" means the gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual's assigned sex at birth.
The South Portland School Department has designed and authorized both an Affirmative Action Officer and a Title IX Coordinator who are responsible for ensuring compliance with all Federal and State requirements relating to nondiscrimination including sexual harassment. Both the Affirmative Action Officer and the Title IX Coordinator are persons with direct access to the Superintendent
The South Portland School Department has implemented complaint procedures for resolving complaints of discrimination/harassment and sexual harassment under this policy. The South Portland School Department provides required notices of these complaint procedures and how they can be accessed, as well as the school department’s compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations to all applicants for employment, employees, students, parents, vendors, contractors and other interested parties.
Legal Reference:
Equal Employment Opportunities Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-261) amending Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000 (e) et seq.)
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 168
81 et seq.): 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IV regulations)Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000d)
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.)
Equal Pay Act of 1963 (29 U.S.C. § 206)
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) (29 U.S.C. § 794 et seq.), as amended Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), as amended
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. § 2000ff et seq.)
Maine Human rights ( 5 MRSA § 4551 et seq.), as amended
Cross Reference:
South Portland Department Affirmative Action Plan
ACAA Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students
ACAA-R- Student Discrimination/Harassment and Title IX Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedures
ACAB Harassment and Sexual Harassment of School Employees
ACAB-R- Employee Discrimination/Harassment and Title IX Sexual Harassment Complaint Procedures
Adopted: October 13, 1980
Revised: April 13, 1981
Revised: January 13, 1981
Revised: January 11, 1999
Revised: May 14, 2001
Revised: November 9, 2009
Revised: December 10, 2012
Revised: September 16, 2020
Revised: November 14, 2022
Revised: December 11, 2023