NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE ADOPTION & PUBLIC HEARING: March 10, 2:00 p.m.

RULE TITLE: Protecting Students from Harassment and Discrimination.

RULE NUMBER: Policy 5.001.

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: To update the procedures for investigation and resolution of allegations of harassment of, or discrimination against, students.

SUMMARY: This revision clarifies the grievance and investigation procedures to be used by the District if a student alleges harassment or discrimination on any basis, such as race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, ancestry, ethnicity, gender, linguistic preference, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or social/family background; requires formal complaints to be in writing; clarifies that the principal or other school official receiving a verbal informal complaint must memorialize the allegations in a written summary and request the student (or minor student's parent/guardian) to sign the written summary.

SPECIFIC RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: §§ 1001.41(2); 1001.43(1), (6); 1006.07, Fla. Stat. LAWS IMPLEMENTED: 20 U.S.C. §§ 1681-1688 (Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972); 20 U.S.C. § 1232g et seq. ("FERPA"); and §§ 119.07(3)(p), (u); 1000.05(2)(a), (b); 1002.22(3)(a), (d); 1001.41(1), (2); 1006.07(2)(h); 1006.08; 1012.23(1); 1012.31(3)(a); 1012.796(1)(c), Fla. Stat.; State Board of Education Rules 6B-1.006(3)(g) and 6A-1.0404(5), (7).

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COST (IF ONE HAS BEEN PREPARED): None. Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or to provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative, must do so in writing within 21 days of the publication of this Notice.

TEXT OF PROPOSED RULE: Is available from the District's web site at http://www.palmbeach.k12.fl.us/policies/revisions.htm.

CONTACT PERSON: Dr. Joseph Orr, 3340 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, FL 33406.

PERSONS ORIGINATING THE PROPOSED RULE REVISION: Various persons, including JulieAnn Allison, Esq.

SUPERVISOR OR PERSON WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Dr. Art Johnson.

DATE PROPOSED RULE WAS APPROVED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD: September 9 and October 14, 2002.

PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT NOTICE WAS PUBLISHED: October 7, 2002, in The Palm Beach Post.

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE: Adoption of the proposed Policy is anticipated to be considered at the Board's Special Meeting on Policies on March 24, 2003, anticipated to begin at 4:00 p.m. in the Board Chambers at 3300 Forest Hill Blvd., West Palm Beach, Fla. The meeting is open to the public.