This pre-conference session provides a refresher on Oregon civil rights laws and the duties of Civil Rights Coordinators for returning Civil Rights Coordinators who completed their initial training during the 2024-2025 school year. This session will use scenarios and discussion to briefly review state and federal civil rights laws including Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, the role of the Civil Rights Coordinator, and the role of federally-required Coordinators (Title IX, Section 504, and ADA). Participants will also review Oregon school-based laws and policies that overlap with state and federal nondiscrimination law, and learn best practices for responding to reports that implicate more than one law or policy. Finally, participants will review requirements and best practices for responding to reports of possible civil rights violations through supportive measures, investigations, remedies, and more. Oregon K-12 public school districts and public charter schools are required under OAR 332.505(2) to designate one or more Civil Rights Coordinators for the purposes of ensuring compliance with state and federal civil rights laws. This session will meet the annual training requirements for returning Civil Rights Coordinators under OAR 581-021-0660(3). 

Speakers:

• Dr. Marinda Peters, Section 504 Specialist, ODE Civil Rights Unit
• Taylar Lewis, Title VI Specialist, ODE Civil Rights Unit
• Kate Hildebrandt, Title IX Specialist, ODE Civil Rights Unit