Notice of Non-Discrimination

Notice of Non-Discrimination

Under New Hampshire law and Board policy, no person shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or subjected to discrimination in the District’s public schools because of their age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, marital status, familial status, disability, religion, or national origin. Discrimination, including harassment, against any student in the District’s education programs, on the basis of any of the above classes, or a student’s creed, is prohibited. Finally, there shall be no denial to any person of the benefits of educational programs or activities, on the basis of any of the above classes, or economic status.

Harassment of students other than on the basis of any of the classes or categories listed above is prohibited under Board policy JICK Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention.

Equal Opportunity of Employment and Prohibition Against Discrimination in Employment

The Portsmouth School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The District ensures equal employment opportunities without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identity, marital status, national origin, pregnancy, race, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. The District will employ individuals who meet the physical and mental requirements, and who have the education, training, and experience established as necessary for the performance of the job as specified in the pertinent job description(s).

Discrimination against and harassment of school employees because of age, sex, race, creed, religion, color, marital status, familial status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, or gender identity are prohibited. Additionally, the District will not discriminate against any employee who is a victim of domestic violence, harassment, sexual assault, or stalking.
 

Applicability of Notice

Policy AC is applicable to all persons employed or served by the District. It applies to all sites and activities the District supervises, controls, or where it has jurisdiction under the law, including where it (a) occurs on, or is delivered to, school property or a school-sponsored activity or event on or off school property; or (b) occurs off of school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity or event, if the conduct interferes with a student’s educational opportunities or substantially disrupts the orderly operations of the school or school-sponsored activity or event, as set forth in Board policy JICK, Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention. Examples of sites and activities include all District buildings and grounds, school buses and other vehicles, field trips, and athletic competitions.

Title IX

The District does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX and its regulations, including in admission and employment. To report information about conduct that may constitute sex discrimination or make a complaint of sex discrimination under Title IX, please contact the Title IX/Nondiscrimination officer, listed below, or complete and submit the PSD Complaint Form. 

PSD Complaint Form (pdf)

Inquiries about Title IX may be referred to the District's Title IX Coordinator, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, or both. Contact information for district personnel and outside agencies is listed below. 

The Portsmouth School Nutrition Program is prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.. The following persons have been designated to handle inquires or complaints regarding the Food Nutrition Program non-discrimination policy.

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for the oversight of all anti-discrimination laws and Portsmouth School Department policies, including those dealing with sexual harassment.  This responsibility includes being available to meet with students, parents and/or guardians regarding any sex discrimination concerns or formal complaints.  The Title IX Coordinator also tracks complaints to be aware of, and respond to, any trends and to ensure that timely and complete investigations of complaints are conducted. Portsmouth School Department is committed to taking any steps necessary to respond to and prevent sexual harassment.

Inquiries regarding Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. and/or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 may also, or instead of, may be directed to:

U.S. Department of Education 
Office for Civil Rights 
5 Post Office Square, 8th Floor
Suite 900 
Boston, MA 02109-1491 
(617) 289-0111, TTY (877) 521-2172 

Additionally, inquiries may also be directed to the:

To file a program complaint of discrimination regarding the School Nutrition Program a verbal complaint may be made to the School Nutrition Director. In addition, a complaint may be initiated by completing the USDA office, (http://ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html) or by letter addressed to the USDA with all of the information requested in the form.  Completed forms or written correspondence should be submitted to:

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) 
The mission of the ESOL program is to ensure that all English Language learners are given an equitable, appropriate and academically challenged education. The lack of English Language skills is not a barrier for participation in any courses and ESOL classes are credit bearing.