PSB Office of Civil Rights Notice
April 14, 2022
The communication below provides important information from the Public Schools of Brookline. Translations and accessibility options are available on the right-hand side of the page.
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This notice is being sent because of a complaint to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) alleging that disability-based discrimination, specifically retaliation, occurred when the Brookline Special Education Parent Advisory Council (SEPAC) passed a change in its bylaws limiting board membership to exclude individuals who were in a formal dispute with the District. After elections to the SEPAC Board were held under this change, SEPAC changed the rule. The District, by state law, provides significant assistance to the SEPAC. The District is also subject to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. Section 794, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 104, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, 42 U.S.C. Section 12131 et seq., and its implementing regulation at 28 C.F.R. Part 35. Both laws prohibit discrimination based on disability, including retaliation, which is defined as an adverse (negative) action, taken after an individual engages in protected activity such as advocating for rights protected by Section 504/II, that would deter a reasonable person from engaging in further protected activity. Both laws also prohibit the District from aiding or perpetuating discrimination, including retaliation, against any qualified individual with a disability by providing significant assistance to an agency, organization, or person that discrminates on the basis of disability in providing any aid, benefit, or service to beneficiaries of the District’s program or activity.
If the District provides significant assistance to an outside entity that is shown to have discriminated on the basis of disability, including by engaging in retaliation, the District must take steps to obtain compliance from the outside entity or terminate the assistance. Individuals who believe the District is providing aid or perpetuating discrimination against a qualified individual with a disability by providing significant assistance to an agency, organization, or person that discriminates on the basis of disability may file a complaint with:
Maria Letasz, Ed.D.
Director of Guidance and Clinical Services, PreK-12
Section 504/Title II Coordinator
333 Washington Street
Brookline, MA 02445
617-308-6400 (text enabled)
In the event the individual alleged to have provided aid or perpetuated discrimination is designated by the District to receive or respond to these complaints, the alternate contact with whom individuals may file a complaint is:
Casey Ngo-Miller
Deputy Superintendent for Student Services
333 Washington Street
Brookline, MA 02445
617-730-2444
Individuals can also contact OCR with questions about retaliation prohibited by Section 504/Title II.
The Office of Civil Rights - U.S. Department of Education, 8th Floor
5 Post Office Square
Boston, MA 02109-3921
Telephone: (617) 289-0111
Facsimile: (617) 289-0150
Email: OCR.Boston@ed.gov
The Public Schools of Brookline will be hosting a workshop for all families on the special education laws of the Commonwealth and the federal government, specifically focusing on Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a civil rights law designed to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Regardless of whether or not your child with a disability receives special education services through an IEP or has a Section 504 Plan, Section 504/Title II is here for you. Join us to learn more about Section 504/Title II and its protections.
The workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at 5:00 p.m. and will be held by Zoom.
Register in advance for this webinar:
https://brooklinema.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_GOc2C6dJS420lJEo9UviSg