1. Civil Rights

2. “Learning is the only thing the mind never exhausts, never fears, and never regrets.”
- Leonardo DaVinci

3. What is the civil right of every child in the state of Massachusetts?
A Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
in the
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
under the federal law entitled
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

4. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal law, first passed in 1975, that provides rights and protections to children with disabilities. Those rights include:
Evaluation – school is responsible to conduct and pay for an evaluation if there is suspicion of a disability
Accommodations / Modifications – for equal access to educational opportunities if there is a disability
Parental Involvement – parents have the right to be part of the decision making process

5. What is the school’s responsibility in ensuring a student’s civil rights?
The office of Civil Rights (OCR) states that every student has the right to learn in an environment that is free from:
Violence
Harassment
Discrimination
race
gender
color
gender identity
religion
sexual orientation
national origin
disability
ethnicity

6. Schools have a specific responsibility to address:
Hate Crimes
Harassment
Bullying

7. Hate Crimes A hate crime has occurred when a student is targeted for:
physical assault
threat of bodily harm
intimidation
because of his/her race, color, religion, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability
Examples of a hate crime may include:
use of racial, ethnic, religious, or anti-gay slurs towards a student
use of symbols of hate such as a swastika or a burning cross towards a student and/or their belongings.

8. Harassment
Harassment in school occurs when a student’s behavior or inappropriate language create a hostile, offensive, or intimidating school environment:
Examples of harassment crime may include:
Unwelcome sexual advances, including same gender advances
Degrading, demeaning or abusive verbal statements related to a person’s race, color, religion, gender, ethnicity or sexual orientation

9. Bullying
Bullying is a repeated pattern of behavior that results in any of the following:
physical or emotional harm
damage to personal property
a hostile environment at school for the victim
disruption of the educational process or orderly operation of a school
Bullying behavior can come in the form of verbal statements, s, text messages, on-line postings, and physical acts.

10. Under the state anti-bullying law, M. G. L. c
Under the state anti-bullying law, M.G.L. c .71, schools are required to implement procedures for investigating and responding to reports of bullying.
Atlantis’s full bullying policy can be found on our school’s website.
Any student, parent, teacher, or staff member can complete a bullying incident reporting form.
Our School Resource Officer is responsible for conducting all formal investigations of alleged bullying behavior.
Administration and SAC intervene and address behavior when needed to ensure a healthy learning environment for all students

11. When in doubt, do not hesitate to discuss your concerns with:
District Leader
Site Leader
School Adjustment Counselor
School Resource Officer
We are here to help!

12. Test your Knowledge! What does FAPE and LRE stand for?
What year was IDEA first passed?
If a learning disability is identified, what must schools put in place to ensure a student’s equal access to educational opportunities?
List 2 out of the 3 specific areas that school’s have a responsibility to address.
What is the key phrase in determining if behavior is considered bullying?
Only a student or parent can fill out a bullying incident report form at ACS. True or False?

13. Answers
Free and Appropriate Public Education / Least Restrictive Environment
1975
Accommodations / Modifications
Hate Crimes, Harassment, Bullying
Repeated Pattern of Behavior
False – Any parent, student, or staff member can fill out a bullying incident form

14. Questions?