Non-discrimination / Equal Opportunity

(Notice of Non-Discrimination and Designation of Compliance Officer)

In compliance with Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008, and Colorado law, Weld RE-4 School District does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, Veteran status, religion, national origin, ancestry, or need for special education services in admission or access to or treatment and employment in programs and activities. Discrimination against employees and applicants for employment based on age, religion, genetic information, conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth and veteran or marital status or other protected class is also prohibited in accordance with state and or federal law.

Any student or employee who believes they have been the target of unlawful discrimination or harassment, as defined by Weld RE-4’s policies, or who has witnessed such unlawful discrimination or harassment, must immediately report it to the appropriate Compliance Officer/Title IX Coordinator. Complaints concerning sexual harassment and inappropriate sexual conduct will be handled through the procedures outlined in Weld RE-4 policy. Weld RE-4 prohibits retaliation against any individual for filing a complaint or assisting in a complaint investigation. If you perceive retaliation for making a complaint or for participating in an investigation, please report the incident to one of the individuals identified below.

  • For employee or applicant-related inquiries: Director of Human Resources, 1020 Main Street, Windsor, Colo., 970-686-8000, equal.opportunity@weldre4.org

Outside Agencies

Complaints regarding violations of Title VI, (race, national origin), Title IX (sex, including sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and gender expression), Section 504/ADA (handicap or disability), may be filed directly with the Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, 1244 North Speer Blvd., Suite 310, Denver, CO 80204, 303-844-5695, OCR.Denver@ed.gov. Complaints regarding violations of Title VII (employment) and the ADEA (prohibiting age discrimination in employment) may be filed directly with the Federal Office of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 303 E. 17th Ave., Suite 410, Denver, CO 80203, or the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 825, Denver, CO 80202.

Grievance procedures can be found in Policy AC-R-1 for discrimination concerns and Policy AC-R-2 for Title IX concerns.

A.H.E.R.A.

In compliance with the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, Title 40 Part 763, Subpart E of the Federal Code of Regulations, Weld County School District RE-4 has completed the necessary inspection of the District’s schools to identify friable and non-friable asbestos-containing material and has developed a comprehensive management plan for handling asbestos-containing building material in a safe and responsible manner. The Weld County School District RE-4 conducts follow-up inspections annually and when changes occur the Asbestos Management Plan is updated accordingly. The coordinator for the District is the Director of Maintenance and Operations or designee. The Management Plans and Inspection Reports are available for each building at their respective locations or at the District Administration Offices at 1020 Main Street, Windsor, Colorado, 80550 for review during normal business hours. A copying fee will be required if copies are reports or sections thereof are requested. Questions related to the plan may be directed to the Director of Maintenance and Operations or designee at (970) 686-8050.

Sex Offender Registry

Parents, students 18 years of age or older, and community members residing within the law enforcement agency’s jurisdiction may obtain information collected by those law enforcement agencies about registered sex offenders in accordance with the Colorado Sex Offender Registration Act, C.R.S. § 16-22-110(6), by contacting such local law enforcement agencies through the links provided below or by checking the Colorado Bureau of Investigation website at http://sor.state.co.us or https://apps.colorado.gov/apps/dps/sor/ for a list of certain high-risk registered sex offenders.

https://www.windsorpd.com/181/Sex-Offenders https://www.weldsheriff.com/Community/Sex-Offenders https://www.townofseverance.org/police-department

Notice of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are:

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day Weld RE-4 School District receives a request for access.

Parents or eligible students who wish to inspect their child’s or their education records should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.

2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA.

Parents or eligible students who wish to ask Weld RE-4 School to amend their child’s or their education record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent.

One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. The criteria for determining who constitutes a school official and what constitutes a legitimate educational interest must be set forth in the school’s or school district’s annual notification for FERPA rights. A school official typically includes a person employed by the school or school district as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer, contractor, or consultant who, while not employed by the school, performs an institutional service or function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official typically has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility.

4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the [School] to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are:

Student Privacy Policy Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

The Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), 20 USC 1232h, and Colorado Revised Statute § 22-1-123, affords parents and students over 18 years of age (eligible students) certain rights regarding the conduct of surveys, collection and use of information for marketing purposes, and certain physical exams. These include, but are not limited to, the right to:

  • Consent before students are required to submit to a survey that concerns one or more of the following protected areas (“protected information survey”) if the survey is funded in whole or in part by a program of the U.S. Department of Education (ED)–

  1. Political affiliations or beliefs of the student or student’s parent;

  2. Mental or psychological problems of the student or student’s family;

  3. Sex behavior or attitudes;

  4. Illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;

  5. Critical appraisals of others with whom respondents have close family relationships;

  6. Legally recognized privileged relationships, such as with lawyers, doctors, or ministers;

  7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or

  8. Income, other than as required by law to determine program eligibility.

  • Receive notice and an opportunity to opt a student out of –

  1. Any other protected information survey, regardless of funding;

  2. Any non-emergency, invasive physical exam or screening required as a condition of attendance, administered by the school or its agent, and not necessary to protect the immediate health and safety of a student, except for hearing, vision, or scoliosis screenings, or any physical exam or screening permitted or required under State law; and

  3. Activities involving collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing or to sell or otherwise distribute the information to others. (This does not apply to the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for the exclusive purpose of developing, evaluating, or providing educational products or services for, or to, students or educational institutions.)

  • Inspect, upon request and before administration or use –

  1. Protected information surveys of students and surveys created by a third party;

  2. Instruments used to collect personal information from students for any of the above marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes; and

  3. Instructional material used as part of the educational curriculum.

These rights transfer from the parents to a student who is 18 years old or an emancipated minor under State law.

Weld County School District RE-4 has developed and adopted policies, in consultation with parents, regarding these rights, as well as arrangements to protect student privacy in the administration of protected information surveys and the collection, disclosure, or use of personal information for marketing, sales, or other distribution purposes. Weld County School District RE-4 will directly notify parents of these policies at least annually at the start of each school year and after any substantive changes. Weld County School District RE-4will also directly notify, such as through U.S. Mail or email, parents of students who are scheduled to participate in the specific activities or surveys noted below and will provide an opportunity for the parent to opt his or her child out of participation of the specific activity or survey. Weld County School District RE-4 will make this notification to parents at the beginning of the school year if the District has identified the specific or approximate dates of the activities or surveys at that time. For surveys and activities scheduled after the school year starts, parents will be provided reasonable notification of the planned activities and surveys listed below and be provided an opportunity to opt their child out of such activities and surveys. Parents will also be provided an opportunity to review any pertinent surveys. Following is a list of the specific activities and surveys covered under this direct notification requirement:

  • Collection, disclosure, or use of personal information collected from students for marketing, sales, or other distribution.

  • Administration of any protected information survey not funded in whole or in part by ED.

  • Any non-emergency, invasive physical examination or screening as described above.

Parents who believe their rights have been violated may file a complaint with:

Student Privacy Policy Office U.S. Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20202

Fair Notice for Students

What behaviors initiate a student threat assessment?

A student threat assessment will be initiated for the following behaviors, including, but not limited to, serious violence or violence with intent to harm or kill, verbal/written threats to harm/kill others, online threats to harm/kill others, possession of weapons (including replicas), bomb threats and fire setting.

Duty to report

To keep our school communities safe and caring, staff, parents, students and community members must report all threat-related behaviors.

What is a threat?

A threat is an expression of intent to do harm or act out violently against someone or something. Threats may be verbal, written, drawn, posted online or made by gesture. Threats will be taken seriously and investigated. Based on the conclusions of the investigation, appropriate follow-up actions will occur, which may include the involvement of law enforcement, implementation of an intervention plan, and discipline.

What is a Site-Specific Threat Assessment Team?

The school has a site-specific threat assessment team that includes, at least, the principal(s), counselor(s), teachers and a member of law enforcement.

What is the purpose of a student threat assessment?

The purposes of a student threat assessment are:

  • To ensure the safety of students, staff, parents and others.

  • To ensure a full understanding of the context of the threat.

  • To understand factors contributing to the threat makers’ behavior.

  • To be proactive in developing an intervention plan that addresses the emotional and physical safety of the threat maker.

  • To promote the emotional and physical safety of all.

What happens in a student threat assessment?

All threat making behavior by a student shall be reported to the principal who will activate the protocol for the initial response. Once the team has been activated, interviews may be held with the student(s), the threat maker, parents and staff to determine the level of risk and develop an appropriate response to the incident. Intervention plans will be developed as needed and shared with parents, staff and students.

Can I refuse to participate in a threat assessment process?

It is important for all parties to engage in the process. However, if for some reason there is a reluctance to participate in the process by the threat maker or parent / guardian, the threat assessment process will continue with the information available in order to promote a safe and caring learning environment.

Student Privacy Concerns

The School District complies with applicable student privacy laws. However, under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the School District may disclose information to appropriate parties when knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health and safety of a student or other individual.