Legal Statements

The Board of Education of Carroll County does not engage in discrimination that is unlawful or contrary to Maryland State Department of Education guidance on the basis of age, color, genetic information, marital status, mental or physical disability, ancestry or national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression.

The Board of Education of Carroll County is firmly committed to creating equal employment and educational opportunities for all persons by providing an environment that supports optimal academic achievement and productive work and is free from any form of unlawful discrimination, including access to school facilities, educational programs, and extracurricular activities.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:  
Director of Human Resources
125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157
(410) 751-3070.

Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS) does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or the provision of services, programs or activities. Persons needing auxiliary aids and services for communication should contact the Communications Office at 410-751-3020 or publicinfo@carrollk12.org, or write to Carroll County Public Schools, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, may use Relay or 7-1-1. Please contact the school system at least one (1) week in advance of the date the special accommodation is needed.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the American with Disabilities Act:  
Director of Facilities Management
125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157
(410) 751-3177

OR

Communications Officer
125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157
(410) 751-3020

Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibit discrimination in the provision of programs and services (Title VI) and in employment practices (Title VII). All students and employees in the CCPS are covered by these laws. They require that the system must provide equal opportunity in admissions, athletics, counseling, access to courses, and employment policies regarding race, color, or national origin.

For questions or concerns regarding Titles VI and VII, please contact:

Director of Student Services
 125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157
(410) 751-3123

OR

Director of Human Resources
125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157
(410) 751-3070.

The CCPS does not discriminate on the basis of disability in employment or provision of services, programs or activities. Persons needing auxiliary aids and services for communication should contact the Office of Community and Media Relations at 410-751-3020 or publicinfo@carrollk12.org, or write to Carroll County Public Schools, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability, may use Relay or 7-1-1. Please contact the school system at least one (1) week in advance of the date the special accommodation is needed. 

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the American with Disabilities Act:  
Director of Facilities Management
125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157
(410) 751-3177

OR

Communications Officer
125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157
(410) 751-3020

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination based on disability. Inquiries regarding students’ rights related to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 should be addressed to the CCPS 504 Coordinator. All other Section 504 related questions should be addressed to the Supervisor of Student Support Services.

Contact the Supervisor of Student Support Services, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410) 386-1822, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157.

Title IX is that portion of the Educational Amendments of 1972 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities receiving federal funds. All students and employees in Carroll County Public Schools are covered by this law. It requires that the system must provide equal opportunity in admissions, athletics, counseling, access to courses, employment policies regarding marital or parental status of students, and treatment of students.

For questions or concerns regarding Title IX, please contact one of the Title IX Coordinators: the Equity and Inclusion Officer, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410) 386-1680, or the Supervisor of Athletics, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410) 751-3059.

The CCPS has adopted an internal grievance procedure providing for prompt and equitable resolution of complaints alleging any discriminatory action prohibited by applicable laws. Any person who believes she or he has been subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability may file a grievance under this procedure. It is against the law for the CCPS or any of its employees to retaliate against anyone who files a grievance or cooperates in the investigation of a grievance.

Grievances or complaints related to allegations of discrimination should be addressed to the Director of Human Resources, 125 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland 21157, (410) 751-3070.

Procedure:

Grievances must be submitted to the Director of Human Resources within 20 calendar days of the date the person filing the grievance becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory action.

A complaint must be in writing, containing the name and address of the person filing it. The complaint must state the problem or action alleged to be discriminatory and the remedy or relief sought.

The Director of Human Resources (or her/his designee) shall conduct an investigation of the complaint. This investigation may be informal, but it must be thorough, affording all interested persons an opportunity to submit evidence related to the complaint. The Director of Human Resources will maintain the files and records for the CCPS relating to such grievances.

The Director of Human Resources (or her/his designee) will issue a written decision on the grievance no later than 30 days after its filing.

The person filing the grievance may appeal the decision of the written decision from the Director of Human Resources (or her/his designee) by writing to the Superintendent of Schools within 15 days of receiving the Director of Human Resources (or her/his designee). The Superintendent of Schools shall issue a written decision in response to the appeal no later than 30 days after its filing.

The availability and use of this grievance procedure does not prevent a person from filing a complaint of discrimination with the U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, or the Maryland Commission on Human Relations. In addition, employees may submit a grievance in accordance with the terms of their negotiated collective bargaining agreements.

The CCPS will make appropriate arrangements to ensure that persons with disabilities are provided other accommodations, if needed, to participate in this grievance process. Such arrangements may include, but are not limited to, providing interpreters for the deaf, providing recordings of material for the blind, or assuring a barrier-free location for the proceedings. The Director of Human Resources will be responsible for such arrangements.

Should you have reason to believe that a child is being abused or neglected, contact the Carroll County Department of Social Services, 410-386-3434. Please see the Informational Calendar for more information regarding child abuse and child neglect.

Federal legislation for education entitled, "Every Student Succeeds Act" of 2015 requires all school systems to notify parents of their right to request information regarding the professional qualifications of their child's classroom teacher and any paraprofessional providing services to the child. If you would like information regarding the certification and/or licensure qualifications of your child's teacher(s) and/or para educator(s), please write to:
 
Kelly Keith
Department of Human Resources
Carroll County Public Schools
125 North Court Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157