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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 including lactation, 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 all members of the school community 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
Carey Williams, Title IX and Student Equity 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 nondiscrimination 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 and School Board Policy 738 prohibit harassment based on sex, including gender identity and sexual orientation. PWCS encourages all students, and requires all employees, to immediately report misconduct of a sexual nature to school officials. For information about how to report sexual misconduct, see the section below entitled “Reporting Sexual Misconduct Involving One or More Students.”

After receiving a report of sexual misconduct involving one or more students, The Title IX Coordinator will determine whether the alleged misconduct could constitute Title IX Sexual Harassment as it is defined in Regulation 738-1, “Resolution of Allegations Against Students of Sexual Misconduct.” If the alleged misconduct could constitute Title IX Sexual Harassment, PWCS will make Supportive Measures available to the reported target of the alleged harassment (the Complainant) and to the student who has been accused of harassment (the Respondent). Supportive measures are not meant to be disciplinary or punitive in nature; rather, they are individualized services designed to enable the Complainant and Respondent to continue accessing PWCS educational programs and activities while the allegation is being investigated and resolved. Examples of Supportive Measures include counseling, extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, changes to classroom seat and/or bus assignments, modifications of class schedules, restriction on contact between the students, and increased security and monitoring.

In addition to reporting an allegation of sexual misconduct, a Complainant may file a Formal Complaint of Title Sexual Harassment with the Title IX and Student Equity Office. A parent may also file a Formal Complaint on behalf of a student. For information about how to file a Formal Complaint, see the section below entitled “Filing a Formal Complaint of Title IX Sexual Harassment.” Any Formal Complaint against a student that could constitute Title IX Sexual Harassment will be investigated by The Title IX and Student Equity Office. Following a Title IX investigation, if it is determined that the Respondent sexually harassed the Complainant, PWCS will implement remedies designed to restore or preserve the Complainant’s equal access to PWCS education programs or activities and to prevent the harassment from recurring. These remedies may include disciplinary sanctions for the Respondent; for example, the Respondent could be removed from the Complainant’s school on a short- or long-term basis.

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

Reporting Sexual Harassment

Any person may report sexual misconduct. A student or parent should promptly report such misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator, the principal or the assistant principal (although any PWCS employee may receive a report of sexual misconduct). A PWCS employee is required to report sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator; the principal; the assistant principal; or, if the employee is not school-based, to the employee’s supervisor.

Any person who would like to report sexual misconduct directly to the Title IX Coordinator is encouraged to use the form entitled, “Allegation of Sexual Misconduct Involving One or More Students ,” a printable version of which can be found below, in the section entitled, “Additional Information.” Allegations also may be reported to the Title IX Coordinator in person or by telephone, U.S. mail or electronic mail, using the contact information for the Title IX Coordinator provided on this webpage.

Filing a Formal Complaint of Title IX Sexual Harassment

A Formal Complaint of Title IX Sexual Harassment is a written document filed and signed by the Complainant, the Complainant’s parent, or the Title IX Coordinator, alleging sexual harassment and requesting an investigation by PWCS. A Formal Complaint involving one or more students must be filed with the Title IX Coordinator in person or by U.S. or electronic mail. Use of the Formal Complaint of Title IX Sexual Harassment form is strongly encouraged, though not necessary. A PDF version of the Formal Complaint of Title IX Sexual Harassment form can be found below, in the section entitled, “Additional Information.”  An electronic version of the form can also be requested from the Title IX Coordinator.

Confidentiality

To the extent possible, information relating to a report of sexual misconduct or a Formal Complaint of Title IX Sexual Harassment will be kept confidential. When a Complainant requests confidentiality, the request may limit PWCS’s ability to investigate and to take necessary corrective action. When a Complainant reports sexual harassment but requests that PWCS not investigate, PWCS will determine whether it can honor the request in accordance with applicable laws. In some situations, PWCS may determine that it must investigate and/or report the allegations to law enforcement or Child Protective Services.

Retaliation, Interference, and/or False Statements Prohibited

Retaliation against an individual who reports sexual misconduct; files a Formal Complaint of Title IX Sexual Harassment; or participates in, or refuses to participate in, an investigation is strictly prohibited. Likewise, knowingly making a false report, complaint or statement is strictly prohibited. A PWCS student or employee who engages in such misconduct is subject to discipline under 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.

PWCS Title IX team members have participated in a variety of trainings provided by the Association of Title IX Administrators (ATIXA) and by the Virginia School Boards Association (VSBA). Materials used in those trainings can be reviewed at:


Discrimination and Other Forms of Harassment

All members of the school community have a responsibility to report misconduct suspected of being discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law.

A student or parent should promptly report to the principal or assistant principal any misconduct suspected of being discrimination or harassment (other than Title IX Sexual Harassment, which should be reported as described above, in the section entitled “Reporting Sexual Harassment Involving One or More Students”). A PWCS employee is required to report such allegations to the principal; the assistant principal; or, if the employee is not school based, to the employee’s supervisor. Misconduct involving one or more students that is suspected of being discrimination or harassment may also be reported to the Title IX and Student Equity Office by telephone, U. S. mail or electronic mail, using the contact information provided on this webpage.

The target of the alleged discrimination or harassment (the Complainant) may formalize a complaint by submitting to the principal the Complaint of Discrimination or Discriminatory Harassment form (see below, in the section entitled, “Additional Information”). A parent may also file a complaint on behalf of a student.

PWCS will investigate all allegations of discrimination or harassment. The Title IX and Student Equity Office will serve as a resource to families and school-based administrators throughout the investigation and resolution process. If it is determined that discrimination or harassment occurred, PWCS will take corrective action designed to restore or preserve the Complainant’s access to PWCS educational programs or activities and to prevent the discrimination or harassment from recurring. Corrective action may include disciplinary sanctions for the Respondent; for example, the Respondent could be removed from the Complainant’s school on a short- or long-term basis.

Students, parents, and employees who would like additional information about how allegations of discrimination or harassment are investigated and resolved are encouraged to contact the principal or the Title IX and Student Equity Office.

Additional Information

Pertinent Policies and Regulations

Resources for Students and Families