TITLE IX AT PSUSD

Consistent with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Palm Springs Unified School District does not discriminate against students, faculty, or staff based on sex in any of its programs or activities, including but not limited to educational programs, employment, and enrollment. Sexual harassment, including sexual violence, is a form of sex discrimination and is prohibited by Title IX and by PSUSD.

The Palm Springs Unified School District is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education and employment. The District prohibits unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying, of any student by anyone, based on the student’s actual or perceived race; color; ancestry; nationality; national origin; immigration status; ethnic group identification; ethnicity; age; religion; pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy or lactation, including related medical conditions or recovery; parental, marital, family status; physical or mental disability; medical condition; sex; sex stereotypes; sex characteristics; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity; gender expression; or genetic information; or, association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. This nondiscrimination policy applies to all acts related to school activity or school attendance within a school under the jurisdiction of the Superintendent of Palm Springs Unified School District, and covers admission, participation, and accessibility to any program or activity of the district as well as selection, advancement, discharge and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.

PSUSD also complies with California laws that protect individuals from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, as well as on the basis of gender identity.  Education Code §230 states:

"Harassment and other discrimination on the basis of sex include, but are not limited to, the following practices: 

1. Exclusion of a person or persons from participation in, denial of the benefits of, or subjection to harassment or other discrimination in, any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other program or activity. 
2. Provision of different amounts or types of student financial aid, limitation of eligibility for student financial aid, or the application of different criteria to applicants for student financial aid or for participation in the provision of student financial aid by others. 
3. Exclusion from participation in, or denial of equivalent opportunity in, athletic programs.  Equivalent means equal or equal in effect. 
4. Harassment or other discrimination among persons, including, but not limited to, students and nonstudents, or academic and nonacademic personnel, in employment and the conditions thereof, except as it relates to a bona fide occupational qualification. 
5. The application of any rule concerning the actual or potential parental, family, or marital status of a person, or the exclusion of any person from any program or activity or employment because of pregnancy or related conditions."

Questions or concerns about possible discrimination based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity under state law may also be directed to their school's administrators or to the District's Title IX Coordinator, Antonia Hunt, Ed.D..  PSUSD is committed to responding promptly and effectively when it learns of any form of possible discrimination based on sex. PSUSD staff responds to reports of sexual harassment, including sexual violence, as part of its efforts to stop the harassment and prevent the recurrence of possible sex discrimination. An individual who has questions or concerns regarding possible discrimination based on sex should contact the Title IX Coordinator at their respective school or the District's Title IX Coordinator, Antonia Hunt, Ed.D..  An individual also may contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”). (See Title IX Contacts)

Antonia Hunt, Ed.D.
Director, Title IX & Compliance
Palm Springs Unified School District
150 District Center Drive,
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-883-2703 Ext: 4805026
ahunt@psusd.us

WHAT IS TITLE IX?

Title IX is a federal law that was passed in 1972 to ensure that male and female students and employees in educational settings are treated equally and fairly. It protects against discrimination based on sex (including sexual harassment). In addition, Title IX protects transgender students and students who do not conform to gender stereotypes. State law also prohibits discrimination based on gender (sex), gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The preamble to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states that: 

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

 Title IX applies to any institution receiving federal financial assistance from the Department of Education, including state and local educational agencies. Educational programs and activities that receive federal funds from the Department of Education must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner. Also, a recipient may not retaliate against any person for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy, or because a person made charges, testified or participated in any complaint action under Title IX.

DEFINITION OF DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT BASED ON SEX
CALIFORNIA EDUCATION CODE §230

For purposes of this chapter, harassment and other discrimination on the basis of sex include, but are not limited to, the following practices:

1. On the basis of sex, exclusion of a person or persons from participation in, denial of the benefits of, or subjection to harassment or other discrimination in, any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other program or activity
2. On the basis of sex, provision of different amounts or types of student financial aid, limitation of eligibility for student financial aid, or the application of different criteria to applicants for student financial aid or for participation in the provision of student financial aid by others. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prohibit an educational institution from administering, or assisting in the administration of, scholarships, fellowships, or other forms of student financial aid, established pursuant to domestic or foreign wills, bequests, trusts, or similar legal instruments or by acts of a  foreign government, which require that awards be made to members of a particular sex; provided, that the overall effect of the award of these sex-restricted scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of student financial aid does not discriminate on the basis of sex.
3. On the basis of sex,  exclusion from participation in, or denial of equivalent opportunity in, athletic programs. For purposes of this subdivision, “equivalent” means equal or equal in effect.
4. An educational institution may be found to have effectively accommodated the interests and abilities in athletics of both sexes within the meaning of Section 4922 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations as that section exists on January 1, 2003, using any one of the following tests:
1. Whether interscholastic level participation opportunities for male and female pupils are provided in numbers substantially proportionate to their respective enrollments.
2. Where the members of one sex have been and are underrepresented among interscholastic athletes, whether the school district can show a history and continuing practice of program expansion that is demonstrably responsive to the developing interest and abilities of the members of that sex.
3. Where the members of one sex are underrepresented among interscholastic athletes, and the institution cannot show a history and continuing practice of program expansion as required in paragraph (2), whether the school district can demonstrate that the interest and abilities of the members of that sex have been fully and effectively accommodated by the present program.
5. If an educational institution must cut its athletic budget, the educational institution shall do so consistently with its legal obligation to comply with both state and federal gender equity laws.
6. It is the intent of the Legislature that the three-part test articulated in subdivision (d) be interpreted as it has been in the policies and regulations of the Office of Civil Rights in effect on January 1, 2003.
7. On the basis of sex, harassment or other discrimination among persons, including, but not limited to, students and nonstudents, or academic and nonacademic personnel, in employment and the conditions thereof, except as it relates to a bona fide occupational qualification.
8. On the basis of sex, the application of any rule concerning the actual or potential parental, family, or marital status of a person, or the exclusion of any person from any program or activity or employment because of pregnancy or related conditions.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 660, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2004.)

California Education Code §221.8

The following list of rights, which are based on the relevant provisions of the federal regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.), may be used by the department for purposes of Section 221.6:

9. You have the right to fair and equitable treatment and you shall not be discriminated against based on your sex.
10. You have the right to be provided with an equitable opportunity to participate in all academic extracurricular activities, including athletics.
11. You have the right to inquire of the athletic director of your school as to the athletic opportunities offered by the school.
12. You have the right to apply for athletic scholarships.
13. You have the right to receive equitable treatment and benefits in the provision of all of the following:

1. Equipment and supplies.
2. Scheduling of games and practices.
3. Transportation and daily allowances.
4. Access to tutoring.
5. Coaching.
6. Locker rooms.
7. Practice and competitive facilities.
8. Medical and training facilities and services.
9. Publicity.

14. You have the right to have access to a gender equity coordinator to answer questions regarding gender equity laws.
15. You have the right to contact the State Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation to access information on gender equity laws.
16. You have the right to file a confidential discrimination complaint with the United States Office of Civil Rights or the State Department of Education if you believe you have been discriminated against or if you believe you have received unequal treatment on the basis of your sex.
17. You have the right to pursue civil remedies if you have been discriminated against.
18. You have the right to be protected against retaliation if you file a discrimination complaint.

(Added by renumbering Section 271 by Stats. 2015, Ch. 43, Sec. 3. (AB 1538) Effective January 1, 2016.)

 

HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT UNDER TITLE IX

An individual who has questions or concerns regarding possible discrimination based on sex should contact the Title IX Coordinator at their respective school or the District's Title IX Coordinator, Antonia Hunt, Ed.D..  An individual also may contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”). (See Title IX Contacts)

Antonia Hunt, Ed.D.
Director, Title IX & Compliance
Palm Springs Unified School District
150 District Center Drive,
Palm Springs, CA 92264
60-883-2703 Ext: 4805026
ahunt@psusd.us

 Complaints pertaining to Title IX issues should be filed utilizing the procedures detailed below as found at the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights.

"If you believe you have been discriminated or retaliated against on any of these bases by a covered entity, you may file a complaint using either the electronic complaint form or the fillable PDF complaint form linked at the bottom of this page. 

If you choose to file a complaint using either method, you will be asked to provide your name, address, and email address; the name and address of the person discriminated against; and the name and address of the entity you believe discriminated. 

You also will be asked which of the kinds of discrimination forms the basis for your complaint. You will need to provide a description of the conduct that you believe is discriminatory. 

By law, complaints of discrimination must ordinarily be filed within 180 days of the last act of discrimination. If your complaint involves matters that occurred longer ago than this and you are requesting a waiver, you will be asked to show good cause why you did not file your complaint within the 180-day period.

You will be asked whether you have tried to resolve the matter using a grievance procedure or by filing with another agency.

In addition to the complaint, a signed Consent Form may be required. When disclosure of the identity of the complainant is necessary in order to resolve the complaint, OCR will require written consent before proceeding. The complainant will be informed that the complaint will be closed if written consent is necessary in order to resolve the complaint and is not received within 20 calendar days of the date of the acknowledgement letter or the date the Consent Form is requested from the complainant. The signed Consent Form may be submitted to OCR by mail, fax, email (with a scanned attachment), or in person. 

When OCR has determined that consent is necessary in order to resolve the complaint and OCR has not received a signed Consent Form by the 15th calendar day of the date of the acknowledgment letter or the date the Consent Form is requested from the complainant, OCR will contact the complainant (e.g., by phone) to inform the complainant that the complaint will be closed if the signed Consent Form is not received within 5 calendar days. If OCR does not receive signed written Consent Form, the complaint will be dismissed, and the complainant informed in writing. 

A complainant on behalf of or regarding to another person(s) is responsible for securing any necessary written consent from that individual, including when a parent files for a student over the age of 18. Where the person is a minor (under the age of 18) or a legally incompetent adult, the Consent Form must be signed by that person’s parent or legal guardian. Parental or legal guardian consent may not be required for persons under the age of 18 if they are emancipated under state law and are therefore considered to have obtained majority. Proof of emancipation or incompetence must be provided.  

If you submit the completed electronic complaint form, it will be routed to the OCR office with authority to handle complaints in the state where the institution or entity you are complaining about is located. A staff person will contact you once your electronic complaint has been received and reviewed. 

If you select the fillable PDF complaint form, once you complete the complaint form and Consent Form, you should print them out, sign them; and mail them (or email scanned copies of the signed forms) to the Enforcement Office with authority for the state where the institution or entity you are complaining about is located. A staff person will contact you once your complaint has been received and reviewed. 

You may now continue to either the electronic complaint form or the fillable PDF complaint form, or you may return to the OCR Complaint Process page at

• Continue to Electronic Complaint Form- http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html 
• Or Fillable PDF Complaint Form - https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintform.pdf 
•  

Complaints pertaining to Title IX issues should be filed utilizing the procedures detailed above as found at the US Department of Education” Office of Civil Rights.

 

The OCR office for California is located at:
San Francisco Office
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
50 United Nations Plaza
Mail Box 1200, Room 1545
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: 415-486-5555
FAX: 415-486-5570; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov

 

The OCR National Headquarters is located at:
U.S. Department of Education
Office for Civil Rights
Lyndon Baines Johnson
Department of Education Bldg
400 Maryland Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20202-1100
Telephone: 800-421-3481
FAX: 202-453-6012; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: OCR@ed.gov

Complaints pertaining to Title IX issues can also be filed utilizing the Uniform Complaint Procedures as identified in the California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Sections 4600 et seq.  For more information on the UCP complaints and appeals visit the CDE’s Uniform Complaint Procedures and Resolution of Discrimination/Harassment Complaint pages.

Additional Resources

• U.S. Department of Education (ED) Office of Civil Rights (OCR): https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html
• California Department of Education (CDE) Office of Equal Opportunity: https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/or/oeo.asp

CDE Gender Equity/Title IX: https://bit.ly/3dHyvLJ 

NONDISCRIMINATION/HARASSMENT OF STUDENTS

The Board desires to provide a welcoming, safe, and supportive school environment that allows all students equal access to and opportunities in the district’s academic, extracurricular, and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying, of any student by anyone, based on the student’s actual or perceived race; color; ancestry; nationality; national origin; immigration status; ethnic group identification; ethnicity; age; religion; pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy or lactation, including related medical conditions or recovery; parental, marital, family status; physical or mental disability; medical condition; sex; sex stereotypes; sex characteristics; sexual orientation; gender; gender identity; gender expression; or genetic information; or, association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, or bullying, may result from physical, verbal, nonverbal, or written conduct based on any of the categories listed above. Unlawful discrimination also occurs when prohibited conduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects a student’s ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity; creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive educational environment; has the effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with a student’s academic performance; or otherwise adversely affects a student’s educational opportunities.

Unlawful discrimination also includes disparate treatment of students based on one of the categories above with respect to the provision of opportunities to participate in school programs or activities or the provision or receipt of educational benefits or services.

Harassment and other discrimination on the basis of sex include, but are not limited to, the following practices:

(Education Code §230)

1. On the basis of sex, exclusion of a person or persons from participation in, denial of the benefits of, or subjection to harassment or other discrimination in, any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other program or activity.
2. On the basis of sex, provision of different amounts or types of student financial aid, limitation of eligibility for student financial aid, or the application of different criteria to applicants for student financial aid or for participation in the provision of student financial aid by others. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prohibit an educational institution from administering, or assisting in the administration of, scholarships, fellowships, or other forms of student financial aid, established pursuant to domestic or foreign wills, bequests, trusts, or similar legal instruments or by acts of a foreign government, which require that awards be made to members of a particular sex; provided, that the overall effect of the award of these sex-restricted scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of student financial aid does not discriminate on the basis of sex.
3. On the basis of sex, exclusion from participation in, or denial of equivalent opportunity in, athletic programs. For purposes of this subdivision, “equivalent” means equal or equal in effect.
4. An educational institution may be found to have effectively accommodated the interests and abilities in athletics of both sexes within the meaning of Section 4922 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations as that section exists on January 1, 2003, using any one of the following tests:
   1. Whether interscholastic level participation opportunities for male and female pupils are provided in numbers substantially proportionate to their respective enrollments.
   2. Where the members of one sex have been and are underrepresented among interscholastic athletes, whether the school district can show a history and continuing practice of program expansion that is demonstrably responsive to the developing interest and abilities of the members of that sex
   3. Where the members of one sex are underrepresented among interscholastic athletes, and the institution cannot show a history and continuing practice of program expansion as required in paragraph (2), whether the school district can demonstrate that the interest and abilities of the members of that sex have been fully and effectively accommodated by the present program.
5. If an educational institution must cut its athletic budget, the educational institution shall do so consistently with its legal obligation to comply with both state and federal gender equity laws.
6. It is the intent of the Legislature that the three-part test articulated in subdivision (d) be interpreted as it has been in the policies and regulations of the Office of Civil Rights in effect on January 1, 2003.
7. On the basis of sex, harassment or other discrimination among persons, including, but not limited to, students and nonstudents, or academic and nonacademic personnel, in employment and the conditions thereof, except as it relates to a bona fide occupational qualification.
8. On the basis of sex, the application of any rule concerning the actual or potential parental, family, or marital status of a person, or the exclusion of any person from any program or activity or employment because of pregnancy or related conditions.

Any school employee who observes an incident of unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or bullying, or to whom such an incident is reported shall report the incident to the Compliance Officer, Title IX Coordinator, or principal within one workday, regardless of whether the alleged victim files a complaint.

Any school employee who witnesses an incident of unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or bullying, shall immediately intervene to stop the incident when it is safe to do so. (Education Code §234.1)

When a report of unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, retaliation, or bullying, is made to or received by the principal, Compliance Officer, or Title IX Coordinator, the principal, Compliance officer, or Title IX Coordinator shall notify the student or parent/guardian of the right to file a formal complaint in accordance with Administrative Regulation 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures or, for complaints of sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, the right to initiate the Title IX grievance procedures as specified in Administrative Regulation 5145.71 – Title IX Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment Complaint Procedures. Once notified verbally or in writing, the Compliance Officer or Title IX Coordinator shall begin the investigation and shall implement immediate measures necessary to stop the discrimination and ensure that all students have access to the educational program and a safe school environment. Any interim measures adopted to address unlawful discrimination shall, to the extent possible, not disadvantage the complainant or a student who is the victim of the alleged unlawful discrimination.

 Antonia Hunt, Ed.D.
Director, Title IX & Compliance
Palm Springs Unified School District
150 District Center Drive,
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-883-2703 Ext: 4805026
ahunt@psusd.us

SEXUAL HARASSMENT

The Board of Education is committed to maintaining a safe school environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. The Board prohibits, at school or at school-sponsored or school-related activities, sexual harassment targeted at any student by anyone. The Board also prohibits retaliatory behavior or action against any person who reports, files a complaint or testifies about, or otherwise supports a complainant in alleging sexual harassment.  

Sex discrimination, including sex-based harassment, intimidation, or bullying, may result from physical, verbal, nonverbal, or written conduct and occurs when prohibited conduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity; creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive educational environment; has the effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with a student's academic performance; or otherwise adversely affects a student's educational opportunities.

Sex-based harassment is a form of sex discrimination and means sexual harassment and other harassment on the basis of sex, sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, or other bases specified above. Conduct will constitute sex-based harassment when it takes the form of: (34 CFR 106.2, 106.11)

1. Quid pro quo harassment: A district employee, agent, or other individual authorized by the district to provide an aid, benefit, or service in the district's education program or activity conditioning the provision of district aid, benefit, or service on a student's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct

2. Hostile environment harassment: Unwelcome sex-based conduct that, based on the totality of the circumstances, is subjectively and objectively offensive and is so severe or pervasive that it limits or denies a person's ability to participate in or benefit from the district's education program or activity Any prohibited conduct that occurs off campus or outside of school-related or school-sponsored programs or activities will be regarded as sex-based harassment in violation of district policy if it has a continuing effect on a student's ability to participate in or benefit from district educational programs or activities.

3. Sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined in 34 CFR 106.2

Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome sexual advances, unwanted requests for sexual favors, or other unwanted verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature made against another person of the same or opposite sex in the educational setting, under any of the following conditions: (Education Code §212.5; 5 CCR 4916)

1. Submission to the conduct is explicitly or implicitly made a term or condition of a student's academic status or progress
2. Submission to or rejection of the conduct by a student is used as the basis for academic decisions affecting the student
3. The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact on the student's academic performance or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment
4. Submission to or rejection of the conduct by the student is used as the basis for any decision affecting the student regarding benefits and services, honors, programs, or activities available at or through any district program or activity

Examples of Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment
Examples of types of conduct which are prohibited in the district, and which may constitute sex- based harassment, under state and/or federal law, in accordance with the definitions above, include, but are not limited to:

1. Unwelcome leering, sexual flirtations, or propositions

2. Unwelcome sex-based slurs, epithets, threats, verbal abuse, derogatory comments, or sexually degrading descriptions

3. Graphic verbal comments about an individual's body or overly personal conversation

4. Sex-based jokes, derogatory posters, notes, stories, cartoons, drawings, pictures, obscene gestures, or computer-generated images of a sexual nature

5. Spreading sex-based rumors

6. Teasing or sexual remarks about students enrolled in a predominantly single-sex class

7. Massaging, grabbing, fondling, stroking, or brushing the body

8. Touching an individual's body or clothes in a sexual way

9. Impeding or blocking movements or any physical interference with school activities when directed at an individual on the basis of sex

10. Displaying sexually suggestive objects

11. Sexual assault, sexual battery, or sexual coercion

12. Electronic communications containing comments, words, or images described above

 Any student who feels that he/she is being or has been sexually harassed on school grounds or at school-sponsored or school-related activity shall immediately contact his/her teacher or any other employee. Your concerns will be kept confidential, except as necessary to carry out the investigation or take other subsequent necessary action. (5 CCR 4964) It is important to know that the California State law forbids retaliation against those who file a sexual harassment complaint, or who testify, assist or participate in any manner, in an investigation or proceeding. Any student who engages in sexual harassment or sexual violence at school or at school-sponsored or school-related activity shall be subject to disciplinary action. For students in grades 4-12, disciplinary action may include suspension and/or recommendation for expulsion. In addition, disciplinary measures may be taken against any person who is found to have made a complaint of sexual harassment which he/she knew was not true. Upon receiving a complaint of sexual harassment, the coordinator shall immediately investigate the complaint in accordance with Site-Level Grievance Procedures specified in AR 5145.7 – Sexual Harassment. (Education Code §212.5, 5 CCR 4916, BP/AR 5145.7)

STUDENT RIGHTS UNDER TITLE IX

As A Student, You Are Entitled To The Following Rights Under Title IX:

1. You have the right to fair and equitable treatment and you shall not be discriminated against based on your sex. 
2. You have the right to be provided with an equitable opportunity to participate in all academic extracurricular activities, including athletics. 
3. You have the right to inquire of the athletic director of your school as to the athletic opportunities offered by the school. 
4. You have the right to apply for athletic scholarships. 
5. You have the right to receive equitable treatment and benefits in the provision of all of the following:
   1. Equipment and supplies
   2. Scheduling of games and practices
   3. Transportation and daily allowances
   4. Access to tutoring
   5. Coaching
   6. Locker rooms
   7. Practice and competitive facilities
   8. Medical and training facilities and services
   9. Publicity
6. You have the right to have access to a gender equity coordinator to answer questions regarding gender equity laws. 
7. You have the right to contact the State Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation to access information on gender equity laws. 

• https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/eo/genequitytitleix.asp
• https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/tix_dis.html
• https://cifstate.org/governance/constitution/index
• https://cifstate.org/governance/equity/index

8. You have the right to file a confidential discrimination complaint with the United States Office of Civil Rights or the State Department of Education if you believe you have been discriminated against or if you believe you have received unequal treatment on the basis of your sex. 
9. (i)  You have the right to pursue civil remedies if you have been discriminated against. 
10. (j)  You have the right to be protected against retaliation if you file a discrimination complaint. 

(Education Code Section §221.8)

Education Code §221.5-231.6

Antonia Hunt, Ed.D.
Director, Title IX & Compliance
Palm Springs Unified School District
150 District Center Drive,
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-883-2703 Ext: 4805026
ahunt@psusd.us

TITLE IX PROFESSIONAL STAFF TRAINING

Title IX school site staff members and the District's Title IX Coordinator regularly receive training on issues related to sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct.

The PSUSD Title IX Coordinator received training on

• Title IX Coordinators: Decisions and Implementations
• 2024 Title IX Complaint Process Flowchart
• Foundations of Title IX 2024 Regulations
• Conducting Title IX Investigations
• Title IX Training for Site Administrators
• Mastering Investigations at the School Site Level
• Preparing Your K 12 School or District for the 2023 Title IX Regulations
• Title IX Coordinator and Administrator
• Additional Topics for New and Experienced Coodinators

TITLE IX RESOURCES

Board Policies and Administrative Regulations on Title IX

B.P. 1312.3 Uniform Complaint Procedures
A.R. 1312.3 Uniform Complaint Procedures

B.P. 5145.3 Nondiscrimination/Harassment
A.R. 5145.3 Nondiscrimination/Harassment 

B.P. 5145.7 Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment
A.R. 5145.7 Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment 

A.R. 5145.71Title IX Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment Complaint Procedures

Education Codes

• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Title IX provides:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. Title IX is published in the United States Code at:

• 5 CCR Section 4916 - California Code of Regulations - Definition of Sexual Harassment
• Education Code Section 212.5 - Educational Equity - Definition of Sexual Harassment
• Education Code 221.61 - Educational Equity - Title IX Requirements
• Education Code 221.8 - Educational Equity - Student Rights
• Education Code 230 - Educational Equity - Harassment and Other Discrimination on the Basis of Sex
• CIF - Southern Section

Other Resources

• CDE Gender Equity/Title IX
• California Department of Education
• California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) - Equity Complaint and Appeal Procedure
• U.S. Department of Education - Office of Civil Rights
• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission - Office of Equal Opportunity

Know Your Rights
Immigration-Enforcement Actions at California Schools Guide for Students and Families Pamphlet (English)
Immigration-Enforcement Actions at California Schools Guide for Students and Families Pamphlet (Spanish)

WHO TO CONTACT REGARDING TITLE IX CONCERNS

Elementary School:     School Administrator
Middle School:     School Administrator
High School:    School Administrator

District Level:    
For concerns or inquiries about District policies and procedures related to discrimination, including how to file a complaint, contact:

Antonia Hunt, Ed.D.
Director, Title IX & Compliance
Palm Springs Unified School District
150 District Center Drive,
Palm Springs, CA 92264
760-883-2703 Ext: 4805026
ahunt@psusd.us

Other contacts:
(Students and/or Employees)
U.S. Department of Education for Civil Rights
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/index.html 

The OCR office for California is located at: 
San Francisco Office 
Office for Civil Rights 
U.S. Department of Education 
50 United Nations Plaza 
Mail Box 1200, Room 1545 
San Francisco, CA 94102 
Telephone: 415-486-5555; FAX: 415-486-5570; TDD: 800-877-8339 
Email: ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov 

(Employees)
Equal Opportunity Compliance Office (EEOC) 
https://www.eeoc.gov/employees 

Los Angeles District Office: 
Roybal Federal Building 
255 East Temple St., 4th Floor 
Los Angeles, CA 90012 
Phone:  (800) 669-4000; Fax: (213) 894-1118