Legal
Equity and Civil Rights Compliance

Our mission is to ensure complicance with the School Board's policy to maintain an educational and work environment that is free from all forms of unlawful harassment, including sexual harassment. This commitment applies to all District operations, programs, and activities. All students, administrators, teachers, staff, and all other school personnel share responsibility for avoiding, discouraging, and reporting any form of unlawful harassment. This policy applies to unlawful conduct occurring on school property, or at another location if such conduct occurs during an activity sponsored by the Board.

What We Do
  • Provide technical assistance to Pasco County Schools personnel focused on compliance with equity related federal and state laws, local statutes and regulations;
  • Investigate complaints and/or charges of discrimination and unlawful harassment
  • Respond to charges of discrimination/harassment made against the District by individuals who file with a federal or state enforcement agency such as the Office for Civil Rights and the Equal Opportunity Commission, or Department of Justice
  • Provide training to School Board Employees as required by state and federal law
Applicable Policies and Procedures

Pasco County Schools Equity Policies and Equity Complaint Procedures Links

  1. Administrative Equity Policies and Equity Complaint Process

  2. Instructional Equity Policies and Equity Complaint Process

  3. Non- Instructional Equity Policies and Equity Complaint Process

  4. Student Equity Policies and Equity Complaint Process

Title IX Sexual Harassment Regulation--Sex Discrimination

Sex discrimination is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Pasco County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), in its education programs or activities, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and its implementing regulations, not to discriminate in such a manner. The requirement not to discriminate in its education program or activity extends to admission and employment. Pasco County Schools is committed to maintaining an education and work environment that is free from discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment.

Pasco County Schools prohibits Sexual Harassment that occurs within its education programs and activities. When the District has actual knowledge of Sexual Harassment in its education program or activity against a person in the United States, it shall promptly respond in a manner that is not deliberately indifferent.

Pursuant to its Title IX obligations, Pasco County Schools is committed to eliminating Sexual Harassment and will take appropriate action when an individual is determined responsible for violating its policy. Board employees, students, third-party vendors and contractors, guests, and other members of the District community who commit Sexual Harassment are subject to the full range of disciplinary sanctions set forth in Board Policy 2266. Pasco County Schools will provide persons who have experienced Sexual Harassment ongoing remedies as reasonably necessary to restore or preserve access to the District’s education programs and activities.

Pasco Board Policy 2266 defines Sexual Harassment and outlines the procedures related to reports of sexual harassment.

SEX DISCRIMINATION:

Sex discrimination involves treating someone (a student, employee, or applicant) unfavorably because of that person's sex, including the person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy. This can include the failure to provide equal opportunity in educational programs, including but not limited to course offerings, educational activities, physical education, and athletics

SEXUAL HARASSMENT: means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

  1. QUID PRO QUO: An employee of the recipient conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the recipient on an individual's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
  2. HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT: Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient's education program or activity; or
  3. SEXUAL ASSAULT as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v), DATING VIOLENCE as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(10), “domestic violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(8), or STALKING as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30).

Pasco County schools is highly committed to the health and safety of its students. To support our students at all levels, the district utilizes Safer, Smarter Schools curriculum in grades K-12 to develop an understanding of sexual harassment issues at an age-appropriate level. An overview of the K-12 program is available to download. For more specific information each level, the links are provided below.

Elementary 

Middle

High

Sex discrimination is prohibited by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

Pasco County Schools does not discriminate on the basis of sex (including sexual orientation or gender identity), in its education programs or activities, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, and its implementing regulations, not to discriminate in such a manner. The requirement not to discriminate in its education program or activity extends to admission and employment. Pasco County Schools is committed to maintaining an education and work environment that is free from discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment.

Pasco County Schools prohibits Sexual Harassment that occurs within its education programs and activities. When the District has actual knowledge of Sexual Harassment in its education program or activity against a person in the United States, it shall promptly respond in a manner that is not deliberately indifferent.

Pursuant to its Title IX obligations, Pasco County Schools is committed to eliminating Sexual Harassment and will take appropriate action when an individual is determined responsible for violating its policy. Board employees, students, third-party vendors and contractors, guests, and other members of the District community who commit Sexual Harassment are subject to the full range of disciplinary sanctions set forth in Board Policy 2266. Pasco County Schools will provide persons who have experienced Sexual Harassment ongoing remedies as reasonably necessary to restore or preserve access to the District’s education programs and activities.

Pasco Board Policy 2266 defines Sexual Harassment and outlines the procedures related to reports of sexual harassment.

SEX DISCRIMINATION:

Sex discrimination involves treating someone (a student, employee, or applicant) unfavorably because of that person's sex, including the person's sexual orientation, gender identity, or pregnancy. This can include the failure to provide equal opportunity in educational programs, including but not limited to course offerings, educational activities, physical education, and athletics

SEXUAL HARASSMENT: means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:

  1. QUID PRO QUO: An employee of the recipient conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the recipient on an individual's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
  2. HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT: Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the recipient's education program or activity; or
  3. SEXUAL ASSAULT as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v), DATING VIOLENCE as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(10), “domestic violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(8), or STALKING as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30).

Pasco County schools is highly committed to the health and safety of its students. To support our students at all levels, the district utilizes Safer, Smarter Schools curriculum in grades K-12 to develop an understanding of sexual harassment issues at an age-appropriate level. An overview of the K-12 program is available to download. For more specific information each level, the links are provided below.

Elementary 

Middle

High

Disability Based Behavior Discrimination Complaint

The District is responsible for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints alleging discrimination against students with disability-based behavior by failing to make or consider a reasonable modification to the District’s discipline, threat assessment, or law enforcement procedures (School Board Policy 2260- Non- Discrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity).

Denuncia Contra Discriminación por Conducta Basada en Incapacidad

El Distrito Escolar de Pasco tiene la responsabilidad de recibir, investigar, y resolver alegados o denuncias por discriminación contra estudiantes que demuestran una conducta basada en su incapacidad.  El Distrito Escolar de Pasco debe tomar en consideración una modificación razonable a los procedimientos establecidos con respecto a conducta, evaluación de amenazas, o interacciones con la fuerza policiaca. (Poliza de la Junta Escolar 2260- Contra Discriminacion y Acceso a Oportunidades Escolares).

Presione aqui para someter una denuncia o alegado

Title IX Coordinator

For questions or to report sexual harassment, please contact the Title IX Coordinator:

Sheila Blue
Civil Rights Compliance Manager
Pasco County Schools
20430 Gator Lane
Land O' Lakes, FL 34638
sblue@pasco.k12.fl.us
(813) 794-2679 Office
(813) 794-2119 Fax

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