Title IX | Riverside County Office of Education

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) is a federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in all educational programs and activities, including athletic programs. No person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity operated by RCOE. Title IX protects all participants in RCOE’s educational programs and activities, including students, parents, employees, and job applicants. RCOE does not discriminate on the basis of sex, including discrimination based on sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Discrimination on the basis of sex can include sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Please review our Title IX training materials released on May 6, 2020.

As always, if you want to report a sexual harassment incident, please reach out to our Title IX Coordinator:

Hector Alegria, Ed.D.
(951) 826-6677
halegria@rcoe.us
3939 Thirteenth Street, Riverside, CA, 92501

In addition to Title IX, the California Education Code prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in schools. (California Education Code §§ 220-221.1.) Other state and federal laws also prohibit discrimination and ensure equality in education.

Please refer to an overview of all RCOE’s nondiscrimination policies and the following specific policies and procedures regarding sexual harassment:

Information provided here applies to every RCOE school site and all RCOE programs and activities.

Pupil and Public Rights Under Title IX

You have the right to fair and equitable treatment and you shall not be discriminated against based on your sex.
You have the right to be provided with an equitable opportunity to participate in all academic extracurricular activities, including athletics.
You have the right to have access to a sex/gender equity coordinator, referred to as the Title IX Coordinator (find contact information below), to answer questions regarding sex/gender equity laws.
You have the right to contact the State Department of Education and the California Interscholastic Federation to access information on sex/gender equity laws.
You have the right to file a confidential discrimination complaint with the United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights or the California Department of Education if you believe you have been discriminated against or if you believe you have received unequal treatment on the basis of your sex.
You have the right to pursue civil remedies if you have been discriminated against.
You have the right to be protected against retaliation if you file a discrimination complaint.

— (California Education Code § 221.8.)

At this time the County Office does not provide the following items related to athletics, but you have the right to receive equitable treatment and benefits in the provision of all of the following if any are provided by the County Office in the future:

Equipment and supplies
Scheduling of games and practices
Transportation and daily allowances
Access to tutoring
Coaching
Locker rooms
Practice and competitive facilities
Medical and training facilities and services
Publicity

Title IX Coordinator

RCOE’s Title IX coordinator oversees compliance with Title IX requirements and promotes sex equity in RCOE programs.

Hector Alegria
Director II, Personnel Services
Riverside County Office of Education
Riverside, CA 92502
951-826-6677
halegria@rcoe.us

Filing a Complaint

A complaint alleging unlawful discrimination or retaliation must be filed no later than six months from the date the discrimination or retaliation occurred, or six months from when the complainant first learned of the unlawful discrimination. The Superintendent or designee may extend this timeline by up to ninety days for good cause, upon written request by the complainant setting forth the reasons for the extension.

A student, parent, guardian, employee, individual, or organization may file a written complaint alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and/or bullying on the basis of a protected characteristic under RCOE’s Uniform Complaint Procedure by sending a complaint to RCOE’s Title IX Coordinator:

Hector Alegria
Director II, Personnel Services
Riverside County Office of Education
Riverside, CA 92502
951-826-6677
halegria@rcoe.us

Uniform Complaint Form

If you need assistance putting your complaint in writing, please contact Personnel Services at 951-826-6677 or halegria@rcoe.us. You may file a complaint anonymously, but RCOE’s ability to investigate and respond may be limited by a lack of information.

You may also file a discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights. For more information, visit the US Department of Education. Also available is the Electronic Complaint Form for the Office for Civil Rights.

Contact the Office for Civil Rights at:

San Francisco Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
50 United Nations Plaza
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 486-5555
(415) 486-5570 (FAX)
(800) 877-8339 (TDD)
ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov

For information about how to file other types of complaints and the procedures for those complaints, contact RCOE’s Title IX coordinator.

How RCOE Investigates Complaints

Complaints filed under RCOE’s Uniform Complaint Procedure will be investigated and a decision made within sixty calendar days of the RCOE’s receipt, unless the complainant agrees to an extension. RCOE’s compliance officer or designee may interview alleged victims, alleged offenders, and relevant witnesses. The compliance officer may review available records, statements, or notes related to the complaint, including evidence or information received from the parties during the investigation. The compliance officer may visit reasonably accessible locations where discrimination is alleged to have occurred. As appropriate, RCOE’s compliance officer periodically will inform the parties of the status of the investigation. The complainant will be notified when a decision is made. Complaints that are not filed under RCOE’s Uniform Complaint Procedure will be investigated and decided pursuant to the applicable procedure.

What Happens After the Investigation

For complaints filed under the Uniform Complaint Procedure, the compliance officer will prepare and send a final written decision to the complainant and respondent, if any, within sixty (60) working days of RCOE’s receipt of the complaint (unless this deadline is extended by mutual agreement).

The complainant or respondent may appeal RCOE’s decision within fifteen calendar days to the California Department of Education. The appeal must specify the reason for the appeal and whether RCOE’s facts are incorrect and/or the law is misapplied. The appeal must include a copy of the original complaint to RCOE and a copy of RCOE’s decision. For more information, view the California Department of Education’s Uniform Complaint Procedures.

For complaints alleging unlawful discrimination based on state law, the complainant may pursue available civil law remedies, including seeking assistance from mediation centers or public/private interest attorneys, sixty calendar days after filing an appeal with the California Department of Education. (California Education Code § 262.3.) Note that this sixty day moratorium does not apply to complaints seeking injunctive relief in state courts or to discrimination complaints based on federal law. (California Education Code § 262.3.)

Complaints may also be filed with the United States Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, within 180 days of the alleged discrimination. For contact information, see the section above on “How do I file a complaint of sex discrimination?" For more information, visit the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights.

If the compliance officer finds that a complaint has merit, RCOE will take appropriate corrective action.

Learn More

For more information regarding Title IX and sex equity in education or in RCOE employment, please contact RCOE’s Title IX coordinator.

Title IX: Prohibiting Sex-Based Discrimination

What Happens After the Investigation

Learn More