Discrimination or Bias Incident Complaint Procedure

Any person, including students, staff, visitors and third parties may file a complaint.  Complaints regarding discrimination or harassment, on any basis protected by law, shall be processed in accordance with the following procedures:

Step 1 

Complaints may be oral or written and must be filed with the Civil Rights Coordinator. Any staff member who receives a written or oral complaint shall report the complaint to the Civil Rights Coordinator.  The coordinator or designee shall investigate and determine the action to be taken, if any, and reply in writing to the complainant within 10 school days of receipt of the complaint.

Step 2: 

If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision of the Civil Rights Coordinator or designee, a written appeal may be filed with the public charter school Board within five school days of receipt of the coordinator’s or designee’s response in Step 1. The Board may decide to hear or deny the request for appeal at a Board meeting. If the Board decides to hear the appeal, the Board may meet with the concerned parties and their representative at a Board meeting.

The Board’s decision will address each allegation in the complaint and contain the reasons for the Board’s decision. A copy of the Board’s decision shall be sent to the complainant in writing within 10 days of receipt of the appeal by the Board.  If the Board decides not to hear the appeal, the civil rights coordinator's decision is final.

If the  Executive Director is the subject of the complaint, the individual may start at Step 2 and file a complaint with the Board President. The Board may refer the investigation to a third party.

Complaints against the Board as a whole or against an individual Board member may start at Step 2 and should be made to the Board President and may be referred to counsel. Complaints against the Board President may start at step 2 and be made directly to the Board Secretary.

Nondiscrimination Policy Notification 

The public charter school prohibits discrimination and harassment on any basis protected by law, including but not limited to an individual’s perceived or actual race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, familial status, economic status, or veterans’ status, or because of the perceived or actual race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, marital status, age, mental or physical disability, pregnancy, familial status, economic status, or veterans’ status of any other persons with whom the individual associates.

The public charter school may not limit student enrollment based on ethnicity, national origin, race, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, income level, proficiency in English language, the terms of an individualized education program (IEP), or athletic ability,  except as authorized under Oregon law. A public charter school may limit admission to students within a given age group or grade level.  The public charter school must select students through an equitable lottery selection process if the number of student applicants exceeds the capacity of a program, class, grade level or building. The public charter school may implement a weighted lottery that favors historically underserved students in accordance with ORS 338.125. The public charter school may give priority for admission to students in accordance with ORS 338.125.

The public charter school prohibits discrimination and harassment in, but not limited to: employment, assignment and promotion of personnel; educational opportunities and services offered students; student assignment to the school and classes; student discipline; location and use of facilities; educational offerings and materials; and accommodating the public at public meetings.

The public charter school prohibits retaliation and discrimination against an individual who has opposed any discrimination act or practice or because that person has filed a charge, testified, assisted or participated in an investigation, proceeding or hearing, and further prohibits anyone from coercing, intimidating, threatening or interfering with an individual’s exercising the rights guaranteed under state and federal law.

The Board encourages staff to improve human relations within the school, to respect all individuals, and to establish channels through which the school community can communicate their concerns to school administration and the Board.

The administrator shall appoint individuals at the public charter school to contact on issues concerning the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act, and other civil rights or discrimination issues, and notify students, parents, and employees with their names, office addresses, and phone numbers. 

The Board will adopt and the public charter school will publish complaint procedures providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints from students, employees, and the public, and such procedures will be available at the school’s administrative office during business hours and published on the homepage of the school’s website.

Includes discriminatory use of a Native American mascot pursuant to OAR 581-021-0047. Race also includes physical characteristics that are historically associated with race, including but not limited to natural hair, hair texture, hair type and protective hairstyles as defined by ORS 659A.001 (as amended by House Bill 2935 (2021)). As amended by House Bill 2954 (2021)