TITLE IX
MEVA Title IX and Non-Discrimination Notice
Title IX
Maine Virtual Academy is committed to providing an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, which includes sex discrimination, sexual harassment (including sexual violence), as regulated by Title IX, and to insuring the accessibility of appropriate grievance procedures for addressing all complaints regarding all forms of sex discrimination and sexual harassment. Maine Virtual Academy reserves the authority to independently deal with sex discrimination and sexual harassment whenever becoming aware of their potential existence, regardless of whether a complaint has been lodged in accordance with the grievance procedure. Maine Virtual Academy reserves the authority to address sex discrimination and sexual harassment even if the same, similar or related circumstances are also being addressed under another policy, whether of Maine Virtual Academy or another entity. Furthermore, Maine Virtual Academy reserves the right to pursue sexual misconduct violations that fall outside of the scope of Title IX based on Maine Virtual Academy’s judgment that the alleged actions are contrary to any part of its code of conduct or employee handbook.
Sex Discrimination and Sexual Harassment means conduct of a sexual nature that meets any of the following:
Sex discrimination occurs when a person, because of their sex, is denied participation in or the benefits of any education program or activity that receives federal financial assistance.
Sexual harassment means conduct on the basis of sex that satisfies one or more of the following:
1) A school employee conditioning education benefits on participation in unwelcome sexual conduct (i.e., quid pro quo); or submission to such conduct is made a term or condition of employment; submission to or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for employment decisions affecting the individual; or the conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering.
2) Unwelcome conduct that a reasonable person would determine is so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the school's education program or activity.
3) Sexual assault (as defined in the Clery Act; URL: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2014-10-20/pdf/2014-24284.pdf#page=33 ), dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking as defined in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). Sexual harassment can be verbal, nonverbal, or physical.
Any individual who believes they may have experienced any form of sex discrimination or sexual harassment, or who believes that they have observed such actions taking place, may receive information and assistance regarding the School’s policies and reporting procedures from any of the following:
Title IX Coordinator(s): Point of Contact for Student/Families
Jennifer Clark, Guidance Counselor; 6 East Chestnut St. Suite 230, Augusta, ME 04330; Phone: 207.613.8900 ext. 2003; email: jeclark@mainevirtual.org
Point of Contact for Employees & Third Parties
Jillian Dearborn, Human Resources Manager; 6 East Chestnut St. Suite 230, Augusta, ME 04330; Phone: 207.613.8900 ext. 2016; email: jdearborn@mainevirtual.org
Title IX Training links
Staff & Coordinator Trainings are conducted annually during the last 2 weeks in August.
https://sites.ed.gov/titleix/policy/
OCR Webinar: Title IX Regulations Addressing Sexual Harassment
OCR Webinar: New Title IX Protections Against Sexual Assault
OCR Short Webinar on How to Report Sexual Harassment Under Title IX
OCR Webinar on Due Process Protections under the New Title IX Regulations
Conducting an Adjudicating Title IX Hearings: An OCR Training Webinar
Affirmative Action
Maine Virtual Academy, under the governance of the MEVA Governing Board, complies with all applicable federal and state rules and regulation and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities and provides equal access. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies:
Dr. Melinda Browne, Chief Executive Officer/Head of School
Ballard Center: Maine Virtual Academy
6 East Chestnut Street, Suite 230
Augusta, ME 04330
Equal Legal Resources:
Employment Opportunities Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-261) amending Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. § 2000 (e) et seq.)
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.)
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352)
Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (29 U.S.C. § 621 et seq.)
Equal Pay Act of 1963 (29 U.S.C. § 206)
Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) (29 U.S.C. § 794 et seq.), as amended
Americans with Disabilities Act (42 U.S.C. § 12101 et seq.), as amended
Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (42 U.S.C. § 2000 ft et seq.)
Maine Human Rights Act of 1972 (5 MRSA § 4571), as amended
Additionally, you may contact the Office of Civil Rights by calling 800.421.3481.
