Sexual harassment and sexual violence are serious issues that plague schools across the country. According to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, schools are required to take immediate action when sexual violence is reported.
Title IX requires a school to respond right away if it knows or reasonably should know about harassment or violence and in a timely manner to end the sexual harassment or violence, eliminate the hostile environment, and prevent its recurrence. An education lawyer can help schools ensure their compliance with Title IX.
This post will explain what procedures schools must have in place to resolve sexual harassment and violence complaints.
- Every school must have a policy against sex discrimination
Every school must have a written policy against sex discrimination, and the policy must cover all areas of campus life. The policy must include an explanation of what constitutes sexual harassment and an explanation of the school’s grievance procedures.
Moreover, the policy must make it clear that these procedures can be used to report claims of sexual harassment and violence. Schools and educational institutions can seek the professional help of a Title IX lawyer to frame a policy that is in compliance with statutory requirements.
- Every school must have a Title IX coordinator
Every school must have a Title IX coordinator who is responsible for coordinating the school’s compliance with Title IX’s requirements. The coordinator should be provided with adequate resources and proper training. In fact, the coordinator’s job is to ensure that the school adequately educates students, faculty, and staff about sexual harassment and violence and to make sure that complaints are effectively addressed.
- Every school should adopt and publish grievance procedures for students to file complaints of sex discrimination
Every school must adopt and publish procedures for students to file complaints of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and violence. The grievance procedures should explain how a student can file a complaint and how the complaint will be investigated, documented, resolved, and reviewed. Schools can seek the advice of experienced Title IX lawyers to ensure that their grievance procedures are in line with Title IX requirements.
Moreover, all complaints of sexual harassment and violence should be taken seriously and must be investigated in a timely manner. Every school should also encourage employees and students to report incidents of sexual harassment and violence, whether they take place in the workplace or in any other part of campus life.
