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Title in Title Case

Title in Title Case

Statement by Martin H. Gerry, Director, Office.for Civil Rights Department of Health, Educatica and Welfare

Yesterday, I met with Chancellor Irving Anker of the New York City school system to advise him of my conclusion that the school system is violating civil rights laws which prohibit discrimination against minority, female, and handicapped students. This decision concludes a compliance review of the New York City,public schools – the largest civil rights investigation of a public education institution ever undertaken.The date for completion of the review was set by United States District Court Judge John Sirica as part of an order entered in the case of Brown v. Mathews.

  • SpecifIcally, we have informed the school system that it has violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, which prohibits discrimination against physically or mentally handicapped individuals.

The findings of the review are:

  • Minorities are receiving lower amounts of local resources for basic education, in poorer quality facilities which have a more limited range of curricula.
  • Minorities are segregated in elementary school classrooms and special education classes and are given unequal educational services.
  • Students whose primarylangauge is other than English are barred from meaningful participation in education programs.
  • Minority and female students in junior high/intermediate and high schools are channeled to less desirable and more restricted academic, vocational and special programs and are provided with less effective counseling services.
  • Minority junior high/intermediate and high school students are treated differently and more harshly than non-minority students disciplined for the same offense.
  • Non-ambulatory students are given a significantly shorter instructional day and are confronted by architectural barriers which deny them the opportunity to participate fully in the system’s education program. My office has asked for a plan within 60 days which will remedy the discrimination and provide corrective action. We have offered technical assistance to the school system in developing a plan to meet therequirements of Title VI, Title IXand Section 504.

JAN 2 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.