Office for Civil Rights
Encyclopedia
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) is a sub-agency of the U.S. Department of Education that is primarily focused on protecting civil rights
in Federally assisted education programs and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, age, or membership in patriotic youth organizations.
In the case of school bullying
school districts may violate these civil rights statutes and the Department of Educations’s implementing regulations when peer harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability is sufficiently serious that it creates a hostile environment and such harassment is encouraged, tolerated, not adequately addressed, or ignored by school employees. Under these federal civil rights laws and regulations, students are protected from harassment by school employees, other students, and third parties.
advisor to the United States Secretary of Education
.
Currently, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights is Russlynn Ali (2009-present). Former Assistant Secretaries were Cynthia G. Brown (1980), Clarence Thomas
(1981-1982), Harry M. Singleton (1982-1985), LeGree S. Daniels (1987-1989), Michael L. Williams
(1990-1993), Norma V. Cantu
(1993-2001), Gerald A. Reynolds
(2002-2003), and Stephanie J. Monroe (2005-2008).
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
in Federally assisted education programs and prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, handicap, age, or membership in patriotic youth organizations.
Mission
OCR is one of the largest federal civil rights agencies in the United States, with a staff of approximately 650 attorneys, investigators, and staff. The agency is located in twelve regional offices and in Washington, D.C., headquarters. The Office for Civil Rights is responsible for ensuring compliance by recipients of federal education funds with several federal civil rights laws, including:- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964,
- Title IXTitle IXTitle IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a United States law, enacted on June 23, 1972, that amended Title IX of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. In 2002 it was renamed the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act, in honor of its principal author Congresswoman Mink, but is most...
of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, - Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act,
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 19731973 Rehabilitation ActThe U.S. Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in programs conducted by Federal agencies, in programs receiving Federal financial assistance, in Federal employment, and in the employment practices of Federal contractors...
, - the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access ActBoy Scouts of America Equal Access ActThe Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act was passed to prevent State and Federal agencies from reducing their support for the Boy Scouts of America...
, and - the Age Discrimination Act of 1975Age Discrimination Act of 1975Age Discrimination Act of 1975 is a law which prohibits discrimination based on age in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance, for instance, financial assistance to schools and colleges, provided by U.S. Department of Education....
.
In the case of school bullying
School bullying
School bullying is a type of bullying that occurs in connection with education, either inside or outside of school. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or emotional and is usually repeated over a period of time.In schools, bullying occurs in all areas...
school districts may violate these civil rights statutes and the Department of Educations’s implementing regulations when peer harassment based on race, color, national origin, sex, or disability is sufficiently serious that it creates a hostile environment and such harassment is encouraged, tolerated, not adequately addressed, or ignored by school employees. Under these federal civil rights laws and regulations, students are protected from harassment by school employees, other students, and third parties.
Leadership
The United States Assistant Secretary of Education for Civil Rights is the head of the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) of the United States Department of Education. The Assistant Secretary is also the primary civil rightsCivil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
advisor to the United States Secretary of Education
United States Secretary of Education
The United States Secretary of Education is the head of the Department of Education. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet, and 16th in line of United States presidential line of succession...
.
Currently, the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights is Russlynn Ali (2009-present). Former Assistant Secretaries were Cynthia G. Brown (1980), Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas
Clarence Thomas is an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Succeeding Thurgood Marshall, Thomas is the second African American to serve on the Court....
(1981-1982), Harry M. Singleton (1982-1985), LeGree S. Daniels (1987-1989), Michael L. Williams
Michael L. Williams
Michael Lawrence Williams is a former member of the elected Texas Railroad Commission, a regulatory body over, not railroads, but the oil and natural gas industries. Williams is the first African American to hold a statewide elected executive office in Texas history. He was appointed to the...
(1990-1993), Norma V. Cantu
Norma V. Cantu
Norma V. Cantú is an American civil rights lawyer and educator. She is currently a professor of both its law and education at the University of Texas at Austin...
(1993-2001), Gerald A. Reynolds
Gerald A. Reynolds
Gerald A. Reynolds is an American politician and lawyer, and a former chairman of the United States Commission on Civil Rights, a position to which he was appointed by President George W. Bush on December 6, 2004. He succeeded Mary Frances Berry and served a six-year term as Chair...
(2002-2003), and Stephanie J. Monroe (2005-2008).