Annual Notice of Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment Statement

The Hawaii State Department of Education (Department) does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religion. This requirement extends to all of the Department’s programs and activities, including employment and admissions as applicable. If you have difficulty understanding English, you have the right to receive language assistance at no cost to you. Please contact your school’s principal for more information.

 

For the Department high schools that offer Career and Technical Education (CTE) Programs of Study in arts and communications, business, health services, industrial and engineering technology, natural resources, and public and human services, there are no admission criteria. Department high schools will take steps to assure that the lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in CTE programs and will provide equal access to designated youth groups.

 

The Department does not tolerate acts of harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religion. Any student who believes that he or she has been subjected to harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religion is encouraged to report such harassment. Students and parents may report allegations of discrimination or harassment to the school’s administrator or to the Department’s Civil Rights Compliance Branch at the address listed below.

 

The Department is committed to conducting prompt investigations. Support, including counseling and educational resources, will be available to students who are harassed as well as to students found to have engaged in acts of harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religion. Students found to have engaged in harassment may be disciplined up to and including suspension if circumstances warrant. Students, parents, and Department staff should work together to prevent harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religion.

 

The Department will not tolerate retaliation for reporting discrimination and/or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, and religion, and will take steps to protect those who wish to report the discrimination or harassment.

 

Please direct inquiries regarding Department nondiscrimination policies to: Beth Schimmelfennig, Director Rhonda Wong, Compliance Aaron Oandasan, Title Vl Toby Yamashiro, Title VII, Nicole Isa-Iijima, Title lX Krysti Sukita, ADA/504