The Coachella Valley Unified School District is committed to providing educational programs that are free from unlawful discrimination based on legally protected characteristics, including sex and gender as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The District’s general nondiscrimination/harassment policy is found in BP 5145.3

The District’s Title IX Coordinator
Maria McLeod, Director of Title IX & Compliance
Human Resources Department
87-225 Church Street
Thermal, CA 92274
 (760) 848-1081
Email Mrs. McLeod

• You have the right to fair and equitable treatment and to be free from discrimination based on your sex.
• You have the right to an equitable opportunity to participate in all academic extracurricular activities including athletics.
• You have the right to ask the athletic director of your school about the athletic opportunities offered by the school.
• You have the right to apply for athletic scholarships.
• You have the right to equitable treatment and benefits in:
  • Equipment and supplies
  • Scheduling of games and practices
  • Transportation and daily allowances
  • Access to tutoring
  • Coaching
  • Locker rooms
  • Practice and competitive facilities and services
  • Medical and training facilities and services.
  • Publicity
• You have access to a gender equity coordinator to answer questions about gender equity laws
• You have the right to contact the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for information on gender equity laws.
• You have the right to file a confidential discrimination complaint with the United States Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or CDE if you believe you have been discriminated against or received unequal treatment on the base of your sex.
• You have the right to pursue civil remedies if you have been discriminated against.
• You have the right to be protected from retaliation if you file a discrimination complaint.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in programs and activities of federally funded institutions. School district programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination. Key areas addressed by Title IX include: athletics, sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and sexual violence; pregnant and parenting students; off-campus activities; recruitment and admission; and employment. Schools must protect against discrimination in these areas. Schools must also prohibit retaliation against any person for opposing an unlawful practice or policy, or filing, testifying about, or participation in any complaint under Title IX.

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against in violation of Title IX may file a complaint with the District or the Office of Civil Rights (OCR). If a crime is involved, such as sexual assault, individuals may also file a report with the local police department. A person may pursue one or all of these avenues at the same time. Below is a summary of each process.

Title IX complaints may be filed using the District’s uniform complaint procedure found within Board Policy 1312.3.

A complaint with the District must be filed within six months of the discrimination occurring or your awareness of the discrimination (5 CCR 4630(b)). If you have any questions about this time limit, or if you believe your complaint may be outside this time requirement but want to explore other options, please contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Upon receipt of any complaint related to a potential Title IX violation, the District will ensure every allegation is investigated promptly, adequately and impartially. The District will also take steps to protect complainants from retaliation and ensure all parties are treated fairly throughout the District’s investigation process. As part of its Title IX obligations, the District also takes steps to prevent recurrence of any sexual violence and remedy discriminatory effects on the complainant and others, as appropriate. The District’s procedures for investigating a Title IX complaint can be found within Board Policy 1312.3.

Please contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have any questions.