KEARNY BOARD OF EDUCATION             File Code:     6121                

Kearny , New Jersey    07032

Policy  

 

                                  NONDISCRIMINATION/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION  

No pupil enrolled in the Kearny Public Schools shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination in any educational program or activity of this district on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, affectional or sexual orientation, national origin, place of residence in the district, social or economic condition, or nonapplicable disability.  The affirmative action officer shall be responsible for planning, implementing and monitoring the district’s affirmative action program with respect to school and classroom practices.

 

Reporting to the chief school administrator, the affirmative action officer shall review the following areas for compliance with State Department of Education regulations and make suggestions and/or recommendations when necessary.  

A.         Curriculum Content  

He/she shall examine the following areas to ensure that curricula eliminate discrimination and promote understanding and mutual respect among students, regardless of race, color, creed, religion, gender, ancestry, national origin, socioeconomic status or disability:  

1.         School climate

2.         Courses of study

3.         Instructional materials

4.         Instructional strategies

5.         Library materials

6.         Software and audio-visual materials

7.         Guidance and counseling

8.         Extracurricular programs and activities

9.         Testing and other assessments  

He/she shall monitor the curriculum to ensure inclusion of instruction of African-American history in the teaching of United States history and inclusion of instruction on the Holocaust and genocide in the curriculum for all elementary and secondary school pupils.  

B.        Staff Training

He/she shall suggest a program of inservice training for school personnel designed to identify and solve problems of bias in all aspects of the school program.  An affirmative action/equity inservice program shall be held for teaching staff annually; for each support staff member at least once every three years; and for parents and community members as needed to facilitate participation and support.  

Board Policy - Nondiscrimination/Affirmative Action       File Code:   6121                Page 2

    C.        Pupil Access

  He/she shall review all school facilities, courses, programs, activities and  services to ensure that all pupils are provided equal and bias-free access to them.  Particular attention shall be paid to the following:

  1.   Ensuring equal access to all school and classroom facilities;

2.   Assigning pupils in such a way that the racial/national origin composition of

      each school’s enrollment reflects the composition of the districtwide

                  enrollment at each grade level;

3.   Refraining from locating new facilities in areas that will contribute to

      imbalanced, isolated or racially identifiable school enrollments;

4.   Assigning pupils so that school and classroom enrollments are not

      identifiable on the basis of race, national origin or gender;

5.   Ensuring that pupils are not separated or isolated within schools, courses,

      classes, programs or extracurricular activities;

6.   Ensuring that minority and male pupils are not over-represented in

      detentions, suspensions, dropouts or special needs classifications;

7.   Ensuring equal and bias-free access for all pupils to computers, computer

      classes and other technologically-advanced instructional assistance;

8.   Ensuring that all limited English-proficient pupils and pupils with

      disabilities have equal and bias-free access to all school programs and

      activities;

9.   Ensuring equal and bias-free access for language-minority pupils and

      pupils with disabilities to multiple measures for determining special needs;

          10.   Ensuring that pupil support services (such as school-based youth services,

      health care, tutoring and mentoring) are available to all pupils, including LEP         pupils;

          11.   Ensuring that all pregnant pupils are permitted to remain in the regular 

      school program and activities.

 

D.        District Support  

He/she shall ensure that like aspects of the school program receive like support as to staff size and compensation, purchase and maintenance of facilities and equipment, access to such facilities and equipment, and related matters and that all grades within the district are comparable in those areas.  

The chief school administrator will report to the board annually on continuing compliance.