C
Civil Rights Public Notification Program
Each LEA or other program agency has specific responsibilities with respect to public information about its program. Parents or guardians of students in schools participating in the programs and local minority and grassroots organizations must be informed of the availability of program benefits and services, the nondiscrimination policy, and all significant changes in existing requirements that pertain to program eligibility and benefits.
Grassroots organizations are defined as any of those at the local level which interact with potential participants, such as community programs, civic organizations, migrant groups, churches, neighborhood councils, local chapters of the NAACP or JACL, or similar groups.
The LEA must also make available to the public, and to participants and potential participants in the program upon request, information about program requirements and the procedures for filing a discrimination complaint in English and/or the appropriate language if the people do not speak English.
All forms of communication and printed program information, including the free and reduced-price notification letters and public press releases, must include the following statement:
- In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability.
- To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
- This institution is an equal opportunity provider.