Title IX

The Monroe School District is committed to a positive and productive education free from discrimination, including sexual harassment. This commitment extends to all students, employees and other persons  involved in academic, educational, extracurricular, athletic, and other programs or activities of the school, whether that program or activity is in a school facility, on school transportation, or at a class or school training held elsewhere.

About Title IX

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, often referred to as Title IX, is a Federal civil rights law that states: 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, which began with a focus on discrimination and ensuring equity in sports, now includes a major focus on prevention of and response to incidents of sexual harassment and sexual assault.

What is sexual harassment?

Sexual harassment is unwelcome behavior or communication that is sexual in nature when:

  • A student or employee is led to believe that he or she must submit to unwelcome sexual conduct or communications in order to gain something in return, such as a grade, a promotion, a place on a sports team, or any educational or employment decision, or
  • The conduct substantially interferes with a student’s educational performance, or creates an intimidating or hostile educational or employment environment.

Sexual Harassment Occurs When:

  • Submitting to the harasser’s sexual demands is a stated or implied condition of obtaining a work or educational opportunity or other benefit; or
  • Submission to or rejection of sexual demands is a factor in a work, school, or other SPS-related decision affecting an individual; or
  • Unwelcome sexual or gender-directed conduct or communication interferes with an individual’s performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment.

This conduct may take many forms, including:

  • Making unwelcome, offensive or inappropriate sexually suggestive comments,
  • Gestures or jokes;
  • Standing too close,
  • Inappropriate touching,
  • Cornering, or stalking a person; or
  • Displaying offensive or inappropriate sexual illustrations on school property.

What is sexual assault? 

Sexual assault is any unwanted sexual contact against any individual by force or without consent; or when a person cannot give consent (under the age of consent, intoxicated, developmentally disabled, mentally/physically unable to consent, etc.).

Pregnant and Parenting Students:

There are pregnancy supports available under Title IX.  Examples include but are not limited to, protection from harassment, excusing absences related to the pregnancy or childbirth as necessary per a medical provider, and allowing more frequent trips to the restroom.  Please contact the Title IX Coordinator (listed below) regarding what your school can do to support you in continuing your education.

How to get help or file a complaint: 

If you are not sure whether you should make a formal complaint, you can consult the Title IX coordinator at 360-804-2530 or johnstond@monroe.wednet.edu. The Title IX coordinator can help you decide if any action needs to be taken and how best to address your situation.

If you believe that you or an MSD student or staff member has been sexually harassed or sexually assaulted, you can report the incident(s) to any school staff member or the district’s Title IX coordinator.

After a report of sexual harassment has been made, the school and/or Title IX Coordinator will reach out to the individual affected by the alleged misconduct, provide supportive measures, discuss the grievance policy, and offer the opportunity for the complainant to file a formal complaint if the behavior meets the Title IX definition of sexual harassment.  If a formal complaint is filed, appropriate steps will be taken to investigate. Upon completing the investigation, the outcome will be shared with all stakeholders.

Appeal Procedures

If you disagree with the school district’s decision, you may appeal to the school district’s board of directors. You must file a notice of appeal in writing to the secretary of the school board within 10 calendar days after you received the school district’s response to your complaint. The school board will schedule a hearing within 20 calendar days after they received your appeal, unless you agree on a different timeline. The school board will send you a written decision within 30 calendar days after the district received your notice of appeal. The school board’s decision will include information about how to file a complaint with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI).

If you do not agree with the school district’s appeal decision, state law provides the option to file a formal complaint with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). This is a separate complaint process that can take place if one of these two conditions has occurred: (1) you have completed the district’s complaint and appeal process, or (2) the district has not followed the complaint and appeal process correctly.

You have 20 calendar days to file a complaint to OSPI from the day you received the decision on your appeal. You can send your written complaint to the Equity and Civil Rights Office at OSPI:

Email: Equity@k12.wa.us
Fax: 360-664-2967
Mail or hand deliver: PO Box 47200, 600 Washington St. S.E., Olympia, WA 98504-7200

For more information, contact OSPI’s Equity and Civil Rights Office at 360-725-6162/TTY: 360-664-3631 or by e-mail at equity@k12.wa.us.

Other Discrimination Complaint Options
Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education
206-607-1600 ǀ TDD: 1-800-877-8339 ǀ OCR.Seattle@ed.gov ǀ OCR Website

Washington State Human Rights Commission
1-800-233-3247 ǀ TTY: 1-800-300-7525 ǀ Human Rights Commission Website

Dan Johnston
Title IX Coordinator, Equity Officer & Compliance Coordinator
14692 179th Avenue SE
Monroe, WA 98272
360-804-2530
johnstond@monroe.wednet.edu

Resources:

Training Materials: