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SHIPMAN/GOODWIN RECOMMENDED LANGUAGE ADDITIONS
Series 4000
4118.11P
PERSONNEL
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
(PERSONNEL)
The Board of Education will not make employment decisions (including decisions related to
hiring, assignment, compensation, promotion, demotion, disciplinary action and termination)
on the basis of race, color, religion, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin,
ancestry, disability (including pregnancy), genetic information, veteran status or gender identity
or expression, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification.
It is the policy of the Board of Education that any form of discrimination or harassment on the
basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability
(including pregnancy), genetic information, veteran status or gender identity or expression, or
any other basis prohibited by state or federal law is prohibited, whether by students, Board
employees or third parties subject to the control of the Board. The Board’s prohibition of
discrimination or harassment in its educational programs or activities expressly extends to
academic, nonacademic and extracurricular activities, including athletics. It is also the policy of
the Board of Education to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints
alleging any discrimination on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, color, religion,
age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability (including pregnancy),
veteran status or gender identity or expression.
For the purposes of this policy, “genetic information” means the information about genes, gene
products, or inherited characteristics that may derive from an individual or a family member.
“Genetic information” may also include an individuals’ family medical history, the results of an
individual’s or family member’s genetic tests, the fact that an individual or an individual’s family
member sought or received genetic services, and genetic information of a fetus carried by an
individual or an individual’s family member or an embryo lawfully held by an individual or family
member receiving assistive reproductive services.
For the purposes of this policy, “veteran” means any person honorably discharged from, or
released under honorable conditions from active service in, the United States Army, Navy,
Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force and any reserve component thereof, including the
Connecticut National Guard.
For the purposes of this policy, “race” is inclusive of ethnic traits historically associated with
race, including but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles. “Protective
hairstyles” includes, but is not limited to, wigs, headwraps and hairstyles such as individual
braids, cornrows, locs, twists, Bantu knots, afros and afro puffs.
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY – PERSONNEL Page 1 of 4
For the purposes of this policy, “gender identity or expression” means a person's gender-related
identity, appearance or behavior, whether or not that gender-related identity, appearance or
behavior is different from that traditionally associated with the person's physiology or assigned
sex at birth, which gender-related identity can be shown by providing evidence including, but
not limited to, medical history, care or treatment of the gender-related identity, consistent and
uniform assertion of the gender-related identity or any other evidence that the gender-related
identity is sincerely held, part of a person's core identity or not being asserted for an improper
purpose.
Any employee wishing to file a complaint regarding discrimination may obtain a copy of the
Board’s complaint procedures and complaint form which are included in the Board’s
Administrative Regulations Regarding Non-Discrimination/Personnel. These regulations
accompany Board Policy Series 4000 #4118.11 and are available online at www.colchesterct.org
or upon request from the main office of any district school.
If a complaint involves allegations of discrimination or harassment based on reasons such as
gender/sex or disability, such complaints will be handled under other appropriate policies Series
4000 #4118.11 Sex Discrimination & Sexual Harassment in the Workplace; Series 4000 #4118.14
Employees & Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 & Title ll of the Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990.
Any employee also may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of
Education (“OCR”):
Office for Civil Rights, Boston Office
U.S. Department of Education
8th Floor
5 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109- 3921
(617) 289-0111
http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html
Employees may also file a complaint regarding employment discrimination with the Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission:
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Boston Area Office
John F. Kennedy Federal Building
475 Government Center, Boston, MA 02203
(800-669-4000)
Employees may also file a complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and
Opportunities:
Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities
450 Columbus Blvd.
Hartford, CT 06103-1835
(800-477-5737)
NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY – PERSONNEL Page 2 of 4
Anyone who has questions or concerns about this policy, or would like a copy of the Board’s
complaint procedures or complaint forms related to claims of discrimination, may contact:
Director of Pupil Services and Special Education
215 Halls Hill Road 380 Norwich Avenue, Colchester, CT 06415, 860.537.3103
Anyone who has questions or concerns about the Board’s policies regarding discrimination on
the basis of gender/sex may contact the Board’s Title IX Coordinator:
Director of Pupil Services and Special Education
215 Halls Hill Road 380 Norwich Avenue, Colchester, CT 06415, 860.537.3103
Anyone who has questions or concerns about the Board’s policies regarding discrimination on
the basis of disability may contact the Board’s Section 504/ADA Coordinator:
Director of Pupil Services and Special Education
215 Halls Hill Road 380 Norwich Avenue, Colchester, CT 06415, 860.537.3103
Legal References:
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000d et seq.
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 2000e et seq.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.
Age Discrimination in Employment Act, 29 U.S.C. § 621
Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. § 794
Title II of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, Pub.L.110-233,
42 U.S.C. § 2000ff; 29 CFR 1635.1 et seq.
Connecticut General Statutes § 10-153. Discrimination on basis of marital status
Connecticut Fair Employment Practices Act, CT General Statutes § 46a-60
Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-81a Discrimination on basis of sexual
orientation: Definitions
Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-81c Sexual orientation discrimination:
Employment.
Public Act 17-127, An Act Concerning Discriminatory Practices Against Veterans,
Leaves of Absence for National Guard Members, Application for Certain Medicaid
Programs, and Disclosure of Certain Records to Federal Military Law
Enforcement.
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ADOPTED: June 13, 2017
REVISION: August 14, 2018
REVISION: June 8, 2021
238833v19
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