Responsibilities of the Office for Civil Rights
The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), in the U.S. Department of Education (Department),
is a law enforcement agency charged with enforcing federal laws to ensure that
educational institutions receiving federal financial assistance do not engage
in discriminatory conduct. OCR enforces the federal civil rights laws that
prohibit discrimination on the bases of race, color, national origin, sex,
disability and age in programs or activities that receive federal financial
assistance from the Department. The civil rights laws represent a national
commitment to end discrimination in educational programs or activities. These
laws are:
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibits race,
color and national origin discrimination);
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (prohibits sex
discrimination);
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibits disability
discrimination);
- Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (prohibits age discrimination);
and
- Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (prohibits
disability discrimination by public entities, including public school districts,
public colleges and universities, public vocational schools and public
libraries, whether or not they receive federal financial assistance).
In addition, OCR enforces the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, part
of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Under the Boy Scouts of America Equal
Access Act, no public elementary school, public secondary school or state or
local education agency that provides an opportunity for one or more outside
youth or community groups to meet on school premises or in school facilities
before or after school hours shall deny equal access or a fair opportunity
to meet to, or discriminate against, any group officially affiliated with the
Boy Scouts of America, or any other youth group listed in Title 36 of the United
States Code as a patriotic society.
Most of OCR's activities take place in the enforcement offices located around
the nation. In Washington, D.C., the Office of the Assistant Secretary for
Civil Rights provides overall leadership and coordination.
