7:010 Equal Educational Opportunities

Equal educational and extracurricular opportunities shall be available for all students without regard to color, race, nationality, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, gender identity, status of being homeless, immigration status, order of protection status, actual or potential marital or parental status, including pregnancy.  Further, the District will not knowingly enter into agreements with any entity or any individual that discriminates against students on the basis of sex or any other protected status, except that the District remains viewpoint neutral when granting access to school facilities under Board policy 8:020, Community Use of School Facilities.  Any student may file a discrimination grievance by using Board policy 2:260, Uniform Grievance Procedure, or in the case of discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin.  Board policy 2:270, Discrimination and Harassment on the Basis of Race, Color, and National Origin Prohibited. 

Sex Equity

No student shall, based on sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity be denied equal access to programs, activities, services, or benefits or be limited in the exercise of any right, privilege, advantage, or denied equal access to educational and extracurricular programs and activities.

Any student may file a sex equity complaint by using Board policy 2:260, Uniform Grievance Procedure. A student may appeal the Board’s resolution of the complaint to the Regional Superintendent (pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/3-10) and, thereafter, to the State Superintendent of Education (pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/2-3.8).

Administrative Implementation

The Superintendent shall appoint a Nondiscrimination Coordinator, who also serves as the District’s Title IX Coordinator. The Superintendent and Building Principal shall use reasonable measures to inform staff members and students of this policy and related grievance procedures.

Cross Reference: 

• 2:260 Uniform Grievance Procedure
• 2:265 Title IX Grievance Procedure
• 2:270 Discrimination and Harassment on the Basis of Race, Color, and National Origin Prohibited
• 6:065 Student Social and Emotional Development
• 7:020 Harassment of Students Prohibited
• 7:050 School Admissions and Student Transfers To and From Non-District Schools
• 7:060 Residence
• 7:130 Student Rights and Responsibilities
• 7:160 Student Appearance
• 7:180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment
• 7:185 Teen Dating Violence Prohibited
• 7:250 Student Support Services
• 7:330 Student Use of Buildings – Equal Access
• 7:340 Student Records
• 8:020 Community Use of School Facilities

Legal Reference(s): 

• 42 U.S.C. §11431 et seq., McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
• 42 U.S.C. §2000d, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; 34 C.F.R. Part 100
• 20 U.S.C. §1681 et seq., Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972; 34 C.F.R. Part 106.
• Good News Club v. Milford Central Sch., 533 U.S. 98 (2001).
• 29 U.S.C. §791 et seq., Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 34 C.F.R. Part 104.
• 775 ILCS 35/5, Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
• Ill. Constitution, Art. I, §18.
• Good News Club v. Milford Central School, 533 U.S. 98 (2001).
• 105 ILCS 5/3.25b,
• 105 ILCSS 3.25d(b)
• 105 ILCS 5/10-20.12
• 105 ILCS 5/10-20.60
• 105 ILCS 5/10-20.63
• 105 ILCS 5/10-22.5
• 105 ILCS 5/27-1.
• 775 ILCS 5/1-101 et seq., Illinois Human Rights Act.
• 23 Ill.Admin.Code §1.240 and Part 200.

Date Adopted: January 26. 2010

Date Amended:  October 6, 2015;  September 22, 2020; November 19, 2024