DAY 15: CTE and Civil Rights
Have you heard of a Civil Rights Onsite Review? Did you know the Illinois Community College Board (ICCB) is mandated by the United Stated Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to conduct annual reviews of a specified number of community colleges receiving federal Perkins funding? The vitality and effectiveness of our nation’s civil rights laws depend upon the commitment and strength of the agencies charged with their enforcement. The ICCB recognizes the importance of diversity and inclusion in all aspects of the operations of a community college. As a primary recipient of federal financial assistance ICCB is responsible for civil rights administration and compliance. Civil Rights Reviews, conducted by the ICCB are intended as part of a proactive effort to determine how well college operations are being completed on an equal opportunity basis by recipients in compliance with Federal civil rights laws, rules and regulations. Civil Rights reviews are conducted by a team of ICCB and ICSPS staff and are designed to assist colleges in familiarizing themselves with federal requirements and meeting the requirements of the civil rights legislation. To learn more about the review process, applicable laws, or to take the self-assessment, visit http://www.ilcivilrightsreview.com/.
ICCB is working diligently to provide technical assistance and professional development on current and emerging civil rights issues. This spring, we will release a number of fact sheets and one pagers to assist college in checking their compliance. The first of this series, Top Ten: Notice of Nondiscrimination, is attached.
Please contact Illinois’ OCR Methods of Administration Coordinator, Natasha Allan, natasha.allan@illinois.gov or 217.785.0139, with questions or concerns about civil rights compliance.