U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Answers Questions on School Reopening
The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has published a questions and answers guide on how to best support students while complying with the civil rights laws enforced by OCR, namely Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
OCR answers questions regarding the administration of a free appropriate public education and explains which populations may be exempt from mask wearing in line with guidance from the Center of Disease Control. The guidance also addresses issues of physical distancing and accessibility that may be faced by students with disabilities.
While the guidance focuses primarily on primary and secondary institutions, OCR also answers a subset of questions regarding reopening procedures for postsecondary institutions.