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Title IX & Student Equity Office
Departments
Title IX & Student Equity Office

Prince William County Public Schools (PWCS) does not discriminate in employment nor in the provision of educational programs, services and activities on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other basis prohibited by law. 

PWCS is committed to providing learning and working environments that are free from all forms of discrimination. PWCS encourages students, parents, employees, and community members to work together to prevent and remedy discrimination, including harassment. 

 

Contact Information

For more information, or to make a report of discrimination or harassment involving or directed at one or more students, please contact:
Dana Scanlan, Title IX Coordinator and Student Equity Officer
Valerie Lewis, Title IX Investigator

Telephone: 703-791-8595
FAX: 703-791-8124
Email: TitleIXEquity@pwcs.edu

Mailing Address:
Title IX and Student Equity Office
P.O. Box 389
Manassas, Virginia 20108

Office Location:
14800 Joplin Road
Building 3
Manassas, Virginia 20112
Questions regarding non-discrimination requirements can also be directed to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) at the U. S. Department of Education. The OCR office for Virginia is located at:
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20202-1475

Telephone: 202-453-6020
FAX: 202-453-6021; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR.DC@ed.gov

 

 

Sexual Harassment

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs and activities; these protections also extend to pregnancy and marital/parental status. Moreover, the Virginia Human Rights Act, as amended by the Virginia Values Act, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, or disability in education programs and activities.

Any student who believes that he or she has been subjected to sexual harassment; any parent of such a student; or any individual (including another student or a PWCS employee) who believes that a student has been, or is being, subjected to sexual harassment is encouraged to report the harassment to the student’s principal or to the PWCS Title IX Coordinator and Student Equity Officer. Any PWCS administrator who believes that a student is being subjected to sexual harassment is required to report such to the PWCS Title IX Coordinator and Student Equity Officer. 

Upon receipt of a report of sexual harassment, PWCS will make supportive measures available to any student who is an alleged victim of sexual harassment and to any student who has been accused of sexual harassment. Supportive measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services that are designed to stop the alleged harassment, protect one or more individuals, and restore or preserve equal access to the education program or activity. Supportive measures may include, but are not limited to, counseling, extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, changing seat and/or bus assignments, modifications of class schedules, mutual restrictions on contact between the parties, and increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the school campus.

The Title IX and Student Equity Office will conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation into any formal complaint of sexual harassment.  Upon conclusion of the investigation, if it is determined that sexual harassment has occurred, PWCS will implement appropriate remedies that are designed to restore or preserve equal access to the PWCS education program or activity. When there is a finding of sexual harassment, remedies may include, but are not limited to, the short- or long-term removal of the aggressor from the victim’s school.

Students, parents, and employees who would like additional information about the procedures by which allegations of sexual harassment are investigated and resolved are encouraged to contact the Title IX and Student Equity Office.

Reporting Sexual Harassment

Any person may report sexual harassment (whether or not that person is the alleged victim of sexual harassment). A student or parent should promptly report any sexual harassment to the student’s principal or assistant principal, although any school employee may receive such a report. Any PWCS administrator who believes that a student is being subjected to sexual harassment is required to report such to the PWCS Title IX Coordinator and Student Equity Officer. 

If, for any reason, the person making the report prefers not to report the alleged harassment to a school-based employee, the person may report directly to the Title IX Coordinator in person, by mail, by telephone, or by electronic mail, using the contact information for the Title IX Coordinator listed on this webpage.

Initiating A Formal Complaint Of Sexual Harassment

A Formal Complaint of Sexual Harassment is a document filed and signed by the student, student’s parent, or the Title IX Coordinator, alleging sexual harassment and requesting that PWCS investigate the allegations. The written Formal Complaint must be filed with the Title IX Coordinator in person, by U.S. Mail, or by electronic mail. While use of a complaint form is not necessary, such a form is available: Complaint of Discrimination or Harassment Form (PDF).

If a report of sexual harassment is made, but no Formal Complaint is filed, appropriate supportive measures will be available to any student who is an alleged victim of sexual harassment and to any student who has been accused of sexual harassment. Supportive measures will remain available pending investigation and resolution of the report, which will be conducted in accordance with the Student Code of Behavior. 

Confidentiality

All reports and complaints of sexual harassment will be kept confidential except as necessary to carry out the investigation and to take appropriate corrective action. When a student or parent reports sexual harassment to PWCS but requests confidentiality, such request may limit the ability to investigate and to take necessary corrective action. When a student or parent reports sexual harassment to PWCS but requests that PWCS not investigate, PWCS will determine whether it can honor such a request in accordance with applicable laws. In such situations, PWCS may determine that it must investigate or report to law enforcement, or both. 

Retaliation and False Statements Prohibited

Retaliation against students or school employees who report sexual harassment or provide information is prohibited and will not be tolerated by PWCS.  

Persons who knowingly make a false report or complaint, as well as any student or employee who knowingly presents false statements, shall be subject to discipline under the applicable PWCS regulations. 

Training of PWCS Title IX Team

Members of the PWCS Title IX team are up to date on current guidelines and will continue to participate in training on such topics as the definition of sexual harassment; the scope PWCS’s education program or activity; how to conduct an investigation and grievance process, including handling issues of relevance and creating an investigative report; and how to serve impartially, including by avoiding prejudgment of the facts at issue, conflicts of interest, and bias.  

Most recently, PWCS Title IX team members participated in a variety of trainings provided by the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA). Materials used in those trainings can be reviewed at: 

 

Other Forms of Discrimination or Harassment

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, and national origin in education programs and activities. Moreover, the Virginia Human Rights Act, as amended by the Virginia Values Act, prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, or disability in education programs and activities. 

Any student who believes that he or she has been subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, or any other basis prohibited by law (with the exception of those laws governing the provision of special education services, which are the responsibility of the Associate Superintendent of Special Education and Student Services and the Director of Special Education); any parent of such a student; or any individual (including another student or a PWCS employee) who believes that a student has been, or is being, subjected to discrimination or harassment is encouraged to report the harassment to the student’s principal or to the PWCS Title IX Coordinator and Student Equity Officer.  

Upon receipt of a report of discrimination or harassment on any basis prohibited by law, PWCS will initiate protective measures designed to stop the alleged harassment, protect one or more individuals, and restore or preserve equal access to the education program or activity. Protective measures may include, but are not limited to, counseling, extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, changing seat and/or bus assignments, modifications of class schedules, restrictions on contact between the parties, altering school privileges, and increased security and monitoring of certain areas of the school campus.  

PWCS will investigate any complaint of discrimination or harassment involving or directed at students. The Title IX and Student Equity Office will investigate or oversee the investigation and resolution process and also will serve as a resource to families. If it is determined that discrimination or harassment has occurred, PWCS will take appropriate action designed to prevent such discrimination or harassment from recurring; such action may include, but is not limited to, the short- or long-term removal of the offending student from the victim’s school.  

Students, parents, and employees who would like additional information about the procedures by which allegations of harassment are investigated and resolved are encouraged to contact the Title IX and Student Equity Office. A complaint of discrimination or harassment can be submitted using the Complaint of Discrimination or Harassment Form (PDF).

 

Additional Information

Pertinent Policies And Regulations

PWCS is in the process of updating the following policies and regulations to ensure compliance with the United States Department of Education’s Title IX regulations that were issued on May 6, 2020. Policies and regulations under review and revision include: