18/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 19/07/2024 00:26
The U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) today announced that the Colonial School District near Wilmington, Delaware, has entered into a resolution agreement to ensure the district's compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504) and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II) with regard to providing students with disabilities equal access to Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
During its investigation, OCR determined that the district had not taken steps specifically designed to ensure equal access to high rigor courses for students with disabilities, although the district had notice for years that students with disabilities participate in AP courses at rates well below their enrollment rates. In addition, specific district practices, such as promoting AP courses among students in courses in which students with disabilities under-enroll and an absence of district guidance for ensuring inclusion of students with disabilities may contribute to under-enrollment of these students.
To resolve this investigation, the district has committed to:
"Equal access to academically rigorous courses and programs is critical to ensuring all students can realize their educational dreams," said Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Catherine E. Lhamon. "I commend the Colonial School District for its cooperation throughout OCR's investigation and its commitment to improve access for students with disabilities, and all students, to its AP courses."
The letter to the Colonial School District is available here and the resolution agreement is available here.