Harassment Based on Race, Color, or National Origin

Dear Colleague Letter: Protecting Students from Discrimination, such as Harassment, Based on Race, Color, or National Origin, including Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics

The Dear Colleague Letter shares resources about federal civil rights obligations of schools and other recipients of federal financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education to ensure nondiscrimination based on race, color, or national origin under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and its implementing regulations, specifically with respect to students and school community members who are or are perceived to be Jewish, Israeli, Muslim, Arab, Sikh, South Asian, Hindu, or Palestinian or students of any other faith or whose families come from any other region of the world. This guidance responds to recent increases in complaints filed with OCR raising these issues as well as to public reports of discrimination on these bases in schools serving students in preschool through grade 12 and colleges and universities throughout the country.

• Dear Colleague Letter on Protecting Students from Discrimination, such as Harassment, Based on Race, Color, or National Origin, including Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics PDF (410K)

Fact Sheet: Protecting Students from Discrimination Based on Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics  

This fact sheet shares information about protections for all students, including students belonging to any religious group, from discrimination under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 based on shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics.

• Fact Sheet: Protecting Students from Discrimination Based on Shared Ancestry or Ethnic Characteristics PDF (297K)

Guidance on Title VI and Title IX Religious Discrimination in Schools and Colleges 

"Dear Colleague" letter addressing the right of all students, including students of faith, to be free from discrimination in our schools and colleges under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, in cases where such discrimination may be commingled with religious discrimination.

• "Dear Colleague" letter

First Amendment

"Dear Colleague" letter reaffirming that OCR's regulations and policies do not require or prescribe speech, conduct or harassment codes that impair the exercise of rights protected under the First Amendment.

• "Dear Colleague" letter

Racial Harassment / OCR Investigative Guidance

Racial Incidents and Harassment Against Students at Educational Institutions; Investigative Guidance. Investigative guidance on the procedures and analysis that OCR staff will follow when investigating issues of racial incidents and harassment against student at educational institutions. This guidance was published in the Federal Register, Vol. 59, No. 47 (Mar. 10, 1994).

• Racial Harassment / OCR Investigative Guidance

Notice of final policy guidance. Nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The final policy guidance discusses the applicability of the statutes' and regulations' nondiscrimination requirement to student financial aid that is awarded, at least in part, on the basis of race or national origin. This guidance was originally published in the Federal Register, Vol. 59, No. 36.

• Notice of final policy guidance. Nondiscrimination in Federally assisted programs

Notice of application of Supreme Court Decision in United States v. Fordice

The notice describes the effect of the Supreme Court's decision on the U.S. Department of Education enforcement policies under Title VI and was published at 59 Fed. Reg. 4271 (Jan. 31, 1994).

• Notice of application of Supreme Court Decision in United States v. Fordice