Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ocr Policy Change topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Federal civil-rights office terminates 2015 agreement; Delaware Valley SD to revise policies within 30 days
Summary
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights told the Delaware Valley School District it is terminating a 2015 resolution agreement and ordered the district to rescind specific policy language within 30 days; the board put the two affected policies on the agenda for approval at its next regular meeting and will hear from legal counsel.
The Delaware Valley School District board on Tuesday acknowledged a Feb. 25, 2026 letter from the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) terminating a 2015 resolution agreement and directing the district to rescind specified policy language within 30 calendar days.
The board read the OCR letter into the record. The letter states in part: "The U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, OCR, hereby terminates the resolution agreement and any obligations there that the Delaware Valley School District entered into on October 22nd, 2015." The letter said the district's prior policy changes "purported to address allegations" related to name changes, restroom and locker-room practices and that the revised language "violate Title IX" and must be rescinded, with failure to comply prompting a directed OCR investigation.
Board members and administrators said the instructions affect two policies under first review: Policy 103 (discrimination/harassment affecting students) and Policy 104 (discrimination/harassment affecting staff). Administrators said they have revised the policies to comply with OCR's direction and plan to place the two policies on the agenda for approval at the district's next regular meeting.
"Our plan is to have our school counselors and our social workers talk to our students to explain what the letter says, what the policy said and what practices are still lawful and not a violation of Title IX," said Dr. Blum, who described a student-facing outreach plan to begin the week after the letter was received.
Public commenters asked procedural and legal questions. Andrea Posen asked how many contacts with the Department of Education were required before OCR responded and what would happen if the district did not comply; the board said OCR had specified that failure to rescind the policy language would result in OCR opening a directed investigation and that federal agencies have in some cases sought to withhold funds in enforcement scenarios.
Legal counsel will be present at next week's meeting to answer board questions, the administration said. Board leaders also noted potential legal tension between the OCR directive and existing case law, including the Boyertown decision, and advised that the district's chosen path could prompt litigation or requests for injunctions depending on court developments.
Next steps: the administration will hold student meetings to explain changes, the revised policies will be posted for public review, and the board will consider formal approval at its upcoming regular meeting. The district said administrators and counsel will provide guidance to lessen disruption for students during the transition.
Ending: The board added the two policies to next week's approval agenda and will hold a public meeting with legal counsel available to answer questions.
