The U.S. Department of Education issued new Aug. 18 guidance requiring schools receiving federal financial assistance to apply discipline policies without favoring or disfavoring students based on race.
Comal ISD lists Title I among its district programs and a Student/Parent Handbook among family resources, making the district’s written discipline rules and response to the federal guidance the local points to examine.
The U.S. Department of Education said its new guidance requires schools receiving federal financial assistance to apply discipline policies without favoring or disfavoring students based on race.
The department said the guidance follows rulemaking that removed disparate-impact provisions from its Title VI regulations. Under the agency’s description, demographic data alone no longer establishes a violation without a discriminatory policy, practice or intent.
The department says Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, color and national origin in educational programs and activities receiving federal financial assistance. A district response, revised handbook or implementation notice would establish whether any written procedure changes locally and when families would encounter it.