What is discrimination?
Discrimination is the unfair or unlawful treatment of a person or group because they are part of a defined group, known as a protected class. Discrimination may include treating a person differently or denying someone access to a program, service, or activity because they are part of a protected class, or failing to accommodate a person’s disability.
What is a protected class?
A protected class is a group of people who share common characteristics and are protected from discrimination and harassment by federal, state, or local laws. Protected classes under Washington state law include sex, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, veteran or military status, and the use of a trained dog guide or service animal.
How do I file a complaint about discrimination?
If you believe that you or your child has experienced unlawful discrimination or discriminatory harassment at school based on any protected class, you have the right to file a formal complaint. Before you file a complaint, you may wish to discuss your concerns with your student’s CVA teacher or principal, which is often the fastest way to reach a resolution. Please contact your CVA school or district office listed on the here.
The following staff can provide general information about complaint procedures and/or connect you with the appropriate partner district representative(s) to register a grievance:
|Title IX Liaison||Section 504/ADA Coordinator||Compliance Coordinator|
|Danielle Tupek||Janet Williams||Ben Ferney|
A complaint regarding alleged discrimination may be made by email to: firstname.lastname@example.org, or by contacting the district office. Translation/interpretation services may be arranged, if required.
Valley School District
3030 Huffman Road
Valley, Washington 99181
Phone: (509) 937-2791
Fax: (509) 937-2691
For a statewide list of school district compliance coordinators, click here.
Filing a complaint involves submitting a written statement within one year from the date of the incident, following this general process until a resolution is reached:
Step 1: Complaint to the School District
Step 2: Appeal to the Board of Director’s
Step 3: Complaint to the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction
To learn how to file a complaint about discrimination in a public school, click here for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction website, or for additional information about your rights contact: