The following is information regarding your rights and City Heights Prep’s responsibilities regarding Title IX:
Title IX Coordinator Contact Information
All complaints and reports of conduct that may constitute sex discrimination including sex-based harassment should be submitted to our Title IX Coordinator, who can be reached at:
Merdin Mohammed
Assistant Director
4260 54th Street, San Diego, CA, 92115
(619) 795-3137
Email: mmohammed@cityheightsprep.org
What is Title IX?
Title IX (20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.; 34 C.F.R. Part 106) states, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance. . .” In accordance with Title IX and California state law, City Heights Preparatory Charter School (“City Heights Prep”) does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education program or activities, including employment and admissions.
Your Rights and Responsibilities Under Title IX
(a) You have the right to fair and equitable treatment, and you shall not be discriminated against based on your sex.
(b) You have the right to be provided with an equitable opportunity to participate in all academic extracurricular activities and athletics offered by City Heights Prep.
(c) You have the right to inquire of the athletic director or other appropriate City Heights Prep administrator as to the athletic opportunities offered by City Heights Prep, if any.
(d) You have the right to apply for athletic scholarships.
(e) You have the right to receive equitable treatment and benefits in the provision of all of the following:
· Equipment and supplies.
· Scheduling of games and practices.
· Transportation and daily allowances.
· Access to tutoring.
· Coaching.
· Locker rooms.
· Practice and competitive facilities.
· Medical and training facilities and services.
· Publicity.
(f) You have the right to have access to a gender equity coordinator to answer questions regarding gender equity laws. The gender equity officer is the Title IX Coordinator. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and 34 C.F.R. Part 106 to City Heights Prep may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, to the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education (“OCR”), or both.
(g) You have the right to contact the California Department of Education (“CDE”) and the California Interscholastic Federation (“CIF”) to access information on gender equity laws.
(h) You have the right to file a confidential discrimination complaint with OCR or CDE if you believe you have been discriminated against or if you believe you have received unequal treatment on the basis of your sex. See below for more information regarding how to file a complaint.
(i) You have the right to pursue civil remedies if you have been discriminated against.
(j) You have the right to be protected against retaliation if you file a discrimination complaint.
(k) You can find out more information regarding your rights, City Heights Prep’s responsibilities, and access information on gender equity laws from the following resources:
· CIF: http://www.cifstate.org/governance/equity/index
· CDE, Office for Equal Opportunity: https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/or/oeo.asp
· CDE, Gender Equity/Title IX: https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/eo/genequitytitleix.asp
· OCR: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/frontpage/pro-students/sex-pr.html
Statewide Resources for Youth Subjected to Discrimination or Harassment
You can find a list of community-based organizations that provide support to youth, and their families, who have been subjected to school-based discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying at: https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/eo/
Definition of Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex Under Ed. Code Section 230
Harassment and other discrimination on the basis of sex include, but are not limited to, the following practices:
(a) On the basis of sex, exclusion of a person or persons from participation in, denial of the benefits of, or subjection to harassment or other discrimination in, any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other program or activity.
(b) On the basis of sex, provision of different amounts or types of student financial aid, limitation of eligibility for student financial aid, or the application of different criteria to applicants for student financial aid or for participation in the provision of student financial aid by others.
(c) On the basis of sex, exclusion from participation in, or denial of equivalent opportunity in, athletic programs. “Equivalent” means equal or equal in effect.
(d) On the basis of sex, harassment or other discrimination among persons, including, but not limited to, students and nonstudents, or academic and nonacademic personnel, in employment and the conditions thereof, except as it relates to a bona fide occupational qualification.
(e) On the basis of sex, the application of any rule concerning the actual or potential parental, family, or marital status of a person, or the exclusion of any person from any program or activity or employment because of pregnancy or related conditions.
How to File a Complaint Under Title IX
(a) You can find more information regarding how to file a complaint as follows:
· OCR websites:
o https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html?src=rt
o https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html
o https://ocrcas.ed.gov/welcome-to-the-ocr-complaint-assessment-system
· CDE website:
o https://www.cde.ca.gov/re/di/eo/genequitytitleix.asp
· City Heights Prep’s Uniform Complaint Procedures (“UCP”), Title IX Policy Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, and Harassment, Intimidation, Discrimination, and Bullying Policy. Please see the main office or the City Heights Prep website for a complete copy of these policies. A link to the City Heights Prep Title IX Policy Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sex, which includes the specific rules and procedures for reporting sex discrimination and sex-based harassment occurring within City Heights Prep’s education program or activities and for pursuing available remedies, can be found here:
(b) A complaint regarding discrimination or harassment based on sex must ordinarily be filed with the OCR within 180 days of the last act of discrimination. If your complaint involves matters that occurred longer than this and you are requesting a waiver, you will be asked to show good cause why you did not file your complaint within the 180-day period. If you have questions about your situation, you can contact the California branch of OCR at the address listed below. A complaint filed with City Heights Prep under our UCP alleging unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying must be initiated no later than six (6) months from the date when the alleged unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred, or six (6) months from the date when the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying.
(c) OCR has its own policies and procedures for investigating complaints. Please review the above link for more information about this process. A complaint filed with City Heights Prep under our UCP or Title IX Policy Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sex will be investigated in compliance with those policies, as applicable.
(d) There are a variety of ways to file your complaint. You can use the OCR electronic complaint form filed directly through their website; or mail, email, or send by facsimile your own letter or a completed copy of the OCR Discrimination Complaint Form.
· The electronic complaint form is available at https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/complaintintro.html
· You can send a completed version of this form or your own letter via email, facsimile, or regular mail to the following addresses:
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
400 Maryland Avenue SW
Washington, D.C. 20202
Telephone: 800-421-3481
FAX: 202-453-6012; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: ocr@ed.gov
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San Francisco Office
Office for Civil Rights
U.S. Department of Education
50 United Nations Plaza
Mail Box 1200, Room 1545
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: 415-486-5555
FAX: 415-486-5570; TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov
To file a UCP or complaint under our Title IX Policy Prohibiting Discrimination on the Basis of Sex directly with City Heights Prep, please follow procedures set forth in those policies.
Merdin Mohammed
Assistant Director
4260 54th Street, San Diego, CA, 92115
Phone: (619) 795-3137
Email: mmohammed@cityheightsprep.org
Our Title IX Coordinator attended a recent annual new Title IX regulations webinar hosted by YM&C on April 23, 2024 and provided CHP staff with new updates at their school staff meeting in June 2024.
We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all members of our community. If you have any questions, concerns, or require further assistance, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Homeless Policy Contact Information
If you believe you or someone you know is experiencing homelessness and would like to receive additional support, please reach out to our homeless liaison, Merdin Mohammed, for more information about rights and services.
The following school policy also ensures that homeless children and youth are provided with equal access to its educational program and are given the support and resources needed to access an equitable learning experience, despite experiencing homelessness. To learn more, you can access our Homeless Policy here.
For more information regarding our Homeless Liaison, please feel free to reach out to:
Merdin Mohammed
Assistant Director
4260 54th Street, San Diego, CA, 92115
Phone: (619) 795-3137
Email: mmohammed@cityheightsprep.org
Complaint Policy
City Heights Prep believes in open-access enrollment for all students, without discouraging enrollment or discriminating based on any factors. However, if you feel otherwise and would like to submit a complaint, please follow City Heights Prep Charter School Complaint Policy for more information.