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East Haven schools propose major rewrite of nondiscrimination policy, recommend rescinding related policy
Summary
District staff presented a proposed replacement of Policy 0521 to align with the 2020 Title IX rule, add explicit protections (including for sexual assault and human trafficking victims), and recommended rescinding Policy 6121 to remove redundancy; the proposal will return for a second reading with notice templates finalized.
District leaders at the East Haven Board of Education workshop on a May evening presented a substantial rewrite of Policy 0521 (nondiscrimination) and recommended rescinding Policy 6121, saying the changes restore the district's alignment with the 2020 Title IX final rule while adding specific protections.
The superintendent (speaker 2) told the board the revised Policy 0521 follows a CABE model and reorganizes the nondiscrimination framework to call out protections for victims of sexual assault and victims of human trafficking and to explicitly reference IDEA, ADA and Section 504 compliance. The proposal retains language protecting complainants from retaliation and situates grievance procedures consistent with the 2020 Title IX four‑level process, the superintendent said.
Board members were told the recommended rescission of Policy 6121 (nondiscrimination in instructional programs) is driven by a desire to reduce redundancy: 0521(d) explicitly assigns responsibility for monitoring nondiscrimination procedures (including curriculum, materials, training, student access and evaluation) and names the compliance officer role that covers those functions, staff said. The superintendent said rescinding 6121 would not remove protections but would consolidate responsibilities into the updated 0521.
Board members asked whether complainant confidentiality could be preserved. A staff member (speaker 6) said student privacy is generally protected under FERPA but noted there are circumstances (for example, subpoena) where information could be disclosed; staff clarified confidentiality for complainants depends on the specific situation and that the policy aims to limit retaliation.
Staff also described administrative details tied to implementation: the district plans to separate the public notice from the main policy to make the notice easier for families to find and is still finalizing building‑specific posting templates. The legal references in the draft will include Public Act 25139 related to human trafficking and sexual‑assault victims, staff said.
The superintendent said the policy will return for a second reading after the administration confirms posting locations and finalizes the notice templates. That second reading will include the proposed notice and related forms for board review, staff said.
