HJ625: Education resources; DOE, et al; to study allocations.

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 625

Offered January 14, 2015
Prefiled January 13, 2015
Requesting the Department of Education and each school division in the Commonwealth to study allocation of educational resources. Report.
Patron-- Surovell

Committee Referral Pending

WHEREAS, on October 1, 2014, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a "Dear Colleague" letter (letter) that addresses legal obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance; and

WHEREAS, in the letter, OCR reviews its Title VI enforcement functions in school divisions: proactively investigating cases and responding to complaints regarding the allocation of educational resources for evidence of intentional discrimination or disparate impact; and

WHEREAS, in the letter, OCR strongly recommends that school districts proactively assess their policies and practices to ensure that students are receiving educational resources without regard to their race, color, or national origin, including (i) courses, academic programs, and extracurricular activities; (ii) strong teaching, leadership, and support; (iii) school facilities; and (iv) technology and instructional materials; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Department of Education and each school division in the Commonwealth be requested to study allocation of educational resources.

In conducting their study, (i) the Department of Education shall analyze the statewide allocation of educational resources, including (a) courses, academic programs, and extracurricular activities; (b) strong teaching, leadership, and support; (c) school facilities; and (d) technology and instructional materials, for Title VI compliance and (ii) each local school board shall analyze the school division-level allocation of such educational resources for Title VI compliance.

Technical assistance shall be provided to the Department of Education and each local school division by the Office of the Attorney General. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the Department of Education and each local school division for this study, upon request.

The Department of Education and each local school division shall complete their study by November 30, 2015, and shall submit to the Governor and the General Assembly an executive summary and a report of their findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summary and report shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports no later than the first day of the 2016 Regular Session of the General Assembly and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.