The Department of Education conducted a compliance review concerning student discipline in the Minneapolis Public School District in Minnesota. The investigation revealed that black students in grades K-12 were significantly overrepresented in the district's disciplinary actions.

We’ve talked before about The Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Now I think it’s time to dive a little bit deeper by looking at Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

Does anyone actually know exactly how to fold a fitted bed sheet? I sure don’t.  Sometimes conducting discrimination and harassment investigations can feel like folding a fitted bed sheet.

Some things are hard to talk about.

There’s a lot going on in our country right now. There’s a lot to talk about race and racial inequity.

Does the person facepalming emoji come in handy for you as a K12 administrator?

I certainly have had my fair share of experiences thinking of this emoji as a K12 administrator.

Does your neck hurt from staring down at your laptop screen for too long? This can unfortunately be a problem when you’re conducting K 12 discrimination and harassment investigations, but I’ll share with you a tip that I use help combat this issue.

Drama.

Doesn’t it seem like we can’t get away from it? From middle school drama to girl drama to staff drama to parent drama. I know how difficult it is as a K12 administrator to carefully and professionally handle drama.

Are you fluent in emojis? I can’t say that I am but I’m getting better all the time.

Conducting K12 discrimination and harassment investigations gives you a lot of opportunity to practice speaking emoji.

You’re just getting back to your office, ready to move onto the next thing on your to do list and your secretary says to you that a parent called and they sounded mad and they want to talk to you right away. She hands you a sticky note with the parent’s name and phone number. 

As with anything you do, taking care of your body is so important, especially when you’re conducting a civil rights investigation.

Is your office in need of a little organization? Or maybe you just secured a new position as a K12 administrator and you have to set up your new office.

I have already talked with you about what to do when parents don’t answer the phone or otherwise answer other communications when you attempt to contact them as part of a K-12 civil rights investigation. I’d like to talk more about that topic.

Isn’t it frustrating when your staff don’t read their emails?! You work hard to craft a carefully written, important message, only to find out later they never read it!

K-12 administrator, are you tired of hearing people say “we need to prepare kids for the real world” as if they aren’t currently living in the real world?

If your school district must comply with Title IX, perhaps choosing a school year theme such as diversity or respect could help promote the training and information you provide your staff and students regarding Title IX and sex discrimination.

We’ve always done it this way. We’ve never done it like this before. Maintaining the status quo. Do any of these phrases sound familiar to you?

Where do you think most K12 civil rights complaints come from? My answer might surprise you!

Do you have these required discrimination and harassment notices posted? You’ll want to make sure you do!