The Grain Valley School District, as a recipient of federal financial assistance from the United States Department of Education and operates a public elementary or secondary education program and/or activity, is required to undertake to identify and locate every qualified person residing in the District who is not receiving a public education; and take appropriate steps to notify disabled persons and their parents or guardians of the District’s duty.
 

The Grain Valley School District assures that it will provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to each qualified disabled person in the District’s jurisdiction regardless of the nature or severity of the person’s disability. For purposes of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the provision of an appropriate education is the provision of regular or special and related aids and services that (i) are designed to meet individual educational needs of disabled persons as adequately as the needs of nondisabled persons are met and (ii) are based on adherence to procedures that satisfy the requirements of the 504 federal regulations.
 

The Grain Valley School District has developed a 504 Procedures Manual for the implementation of federal regulations for Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Subpart D. This Procedures Manual may be reviewed at the District's administrative office.
 

This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate.

PUBLIC NOTICE

Nonpublic School Participation in Services through the Coronavirus Aide, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act 

Public School District Name: Grain Valley R-5 School District

Public School District Address: 31606 E Pink Hill Road, Grain Valley, MO 64029

Date Issued: 5/28/2020

On March 27, 2020, President Trump signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES) Act into law. The CARES Act is a $2 trillion relief package to address the economic fallout related to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Section 18003 makes funds available from the Education Stabilization Fund for grants to State Education Agencies for elementary and secondary school emergency relief.

Section 18005 of the Act provides that Local Education Agencies (LEAs) receiving funds from the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund must provide equitable services to non-public schools as required under section 1117 of the ESEA. However, control of these funds and title to materials, equipment and property purchased with such funds must remain with the public school district, and be administered by the public LEA. Public school districts will need to consult with non-public school officials to determine how the services will be provided to the non-public schools.

Allowable Uses Applicable to Non-Public Schools

1. Any activity authorized by the ESEA of 1965, including;
   • The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1400, et seq.) (“IDEA”),
   • The Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (34 U.S.C. 463, et seq.),
   • The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006 (20 U.S.C. 2301, et seq.) (“the Perkins Act”), or
   • Subtitle 8 of title VII of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 11431, et seq.).
2. Coordinating the preparedness and response efforts of local educational agencies (LEAs) with state and local public health departments and other relevant agencies to improve coordinated responses among such entities to prevent, prepare for and respond to COVID-19.
3. Providing principals and others school leaders with the resources necessary to address the needs of their individual schools.
4. Developing and implementing activities to address the unique needs of low-income children or students, children with disabilities, English learners, racial and ethnic minorities, students experiencing homelessness, and foster care youth through activities that include how outreach and service delivery will meet the needs of each population.
5. Developing and implementing procedures and systems to improve the preparedness and response efforts of LEAs.
6. Training and professional development for LEA staff on sanitation and minimizing the spread of infectious diseases.
7. Purchasing supplies to sanitize and clean the facilities of the LEA, including buildings operated by such agency.
8. Planning for and coordinating during long-term closures, including how to:
   • provide meals to eligible students,
   • provide technology for online learning to all students,
   • provide guidance for carrying out requirements under the IDEA; and,
   • ensure other educational services can continue to be provided consistent with all federal, state and local requirements.
9. Purchasing educational technology (including hardware, software and connectivity) for students who are served by the LEA that aids in regular and substantive educational interaction between students and their classroom instructors, including low-income students and students with disabilities, which may include assistive technology or adaptive equipment.
10. Providing mental health services and supports.
11. Planning and implementing activities related to summer learning and supplemental afterschool programs, including providing classroom instruction or online learning during the summer months and addressing the needs of low-income students, students with disabilities, English learners, migrant students, students experiencing homelessness and children in foster care.

The CARES Act funds are for the 2019-20 school year and will be available to LEAs for use until September 30, 2022.

While the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has a number of nonpublic schools registered for participation in federal programs, there may be additional nonpublic schools that wish to receive an equitable share of services funded by the CARES Act.. Nonpublic schools not registered with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) may contact the Federal Programs Section to participate in the CARES Act services.

It is important to note that the non-public school will not receive funds, but rather services from the public school district.

If you choose to participate in the services the CARES Act funds offer, the Department will need confirmation from the nonpublic school of their wishes to participate as well as enrollment counts and economic deprivation counts BEFORE June 1, 2020.

If you have questions or concerns, or to submit enrollment counts please contact Julia Cowell, Director of Federal Programs, at Julia.cowell@dese.mo.gov or Theresa Villmer, Equitable Services Ombudsman for the State of Missouri, at Theresa.villmer@dese.mo.gov. 3

The Grain Valley Schools Custodian of Records is April Claphan.  Below please find the contact information for Ms Claphan:

Custodian of Records
April Claphan
PO Box 304
Grain Valley, MO 64029
(816) 847-5006 x1026
Email April Claphan

Notification of Rights under FERPA for Elementary and Secondary Schools

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords parents and students who are 18 years of age or older ("eligible students") certain rights with respect to the student's education records. These rights are: 

1. The right to inspect and review the student's education records within 45 days after the day the school receives a request for access. Parents or eligible students should submit to the school principal a written request that identifies the records they wish to inspect. The school official will make arrangements for access and notify the parent or eligible student of the time and place where the records may be inspected.
2. The right to request the amendment of the student’s education records that the parent or eligible student believes are inaccurate, misleading, or otherwise in violation of the student’s privacy rights under FERPA. Parents or eligible students who wish to ask the school to amend a record should write the school principal, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it should be changed. If the school decides not to amend the record as requested by the parent or eligible student, the school will notify the parent or eligible student of the decision and of their right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to the parent or eligible student when notified of the right to a hearing.
3. The right to provide written consent before the school discloses personally identifiable information (PII) from the student's education records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception, which permits disclosure without consent, is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is a person employed by the school as an administrator, supervisor, instructor, or support staff member (including health or medical staff and law enforcement unit personnel) or a person serving on the school board. A school official also may include a volunteer or contractor outside of the school who performs an institutional service of function for which the school would otherwise use its own employees and who is under the direct control of the school with respect to the use and maintenance of PII from education records, such as an attorney, auditor, medical consultant, or therapist; a parent or student volunteering to serve on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee; or a parent, student, or other volunteer assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. Upon request, the school discloses education records without consent to officials of another school district in which a student seeks or intends to enroll, or is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes of the student’s enrollment or transfer. 
4. The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by the school to comply with the requirements of FERPA. The name and address of the Office that administers FERPA are: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20202.
   1. To an agency caseworker or other representative of a State or local child welfare agency or tribal organization who is authorized to access a student’s case plan when such agency or organization is legally responsible, in accordance with State or tribal law, for the care and protection of the student in foster care placement.  (20 U.S.C. § 1232g(b)(1)(L))
   2. To the Secretary of Agriculture or authorized representatives of the Food and Nutrition Service for purposes of conducting program monitoring, evaluations, and performance measurements of programs authorized under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966, under certain conditions.  (20 U.S.C. § 1232g(b)(1)(K))

The district may release directory information on students to qualified individuals, groups, or vendors only. Directory information consists of the student’s name, grade/age, and may contain height and weight information as printed in athletic programs for interscholastic play. Other examples of such information release may include yearbook production needs and school picture data. Parents/guardians may request that this directory information on their student not be released by notifying the principal, in writing, at their child’s school within ten school days after this annual notice.  Even if a parent or eligible student notifies the district in writing that he or she does not want directory information disclosed, the district may still disclose the information if required or allowed to do so by law. See the list below of the disclosures that elementary and secondary schools may make without consent. 

FERPA permits the disclosure of PII from students’ education records, without consent of the parent or eligible student, if the disclosure meets certain conditions found in §99.31 of the FERPA regulations. 

Except for disclosures to school officials, disclosures related to some judicial orders or lawfully issued subpoenas, disclosures of directory information, and disclosures to the parent or eligible student, §99.32 of the FERPA regulations requires the school to record the disclosure. Parents and eligible students have a right to inspect and review the record of disclosures. A school may disclose PII from the education records of a student without obtaining prior written consent of the parents or the eligible student:

• To other school officials, including teachers, within the educational agency or institution whom the school has determined to have legitimate educational interests. This includes contractors, consultants, volunteers, or other parties to whom the school has outsourced institutional services or functions, provided that the conditions listed in §99.31(a)(1)(i)(B)(1) - (a)(1)(i)(B)(2) are met. (§99.31(a)(1)) 
• To officials of another school, school system, or institution of postsecondary education where the student seeks or intends to enroll, or where the student is already enrolled if the disclosure is for purposes related to the student’s enrollment or transfer, subject to the requirements of §99.34. (§99.31(a)(2)) 
• To authorized representatives of the U. S. Comptroller General, the U. S. Attorney General, the U.S. Secretary of Education, or State and local educational authorities, such as the State educational agency in the parent or eligible student’s State (SEA). Disclosures under this provision may be made, subject to the requirements of §99.35, in connection with an audit or evaluation of Federal- or State-supported education programs, or for the enforcement of or compliance with Federal legal requirements that relate to those programs. These entities may make further disclosures of PII to outside entities that are designated by them as their authorized representatives to conduct any audit, evaluation, or enforcement or compliance activity on their behalf. (§§99.31(a)(3) and 99.35)
• In connection with financial aid for which the student has applied or which the student has received, if the information is necessary to determine eligibility for the aid, determine the amount of the aid, determine the conditions of the aid, or enforce the terms and conditions of the aid. (§99.31(a)(4)) 
• To State and local officials or authorities to whom information is specifically allowed to be reported or disclosed by a State statute that concerns the juvenile justice system and the system’s ability to effectively serve, prior to adjudication, the student whose records were released, subject to §99.38. (§99.31(a)(5)) 
• To organizations conducting studies for, or on behalf of, the school, in order to: (a) develop, validate, or administer predictive tests; (b) administer student aid programs; or (c) improve instruction. (§99.31(a)(6)) 
• To accrediting organizations to carry out their accrediting functions. (§99.31(a)(7)) 
• To parents of an eligible student if the student is a dependent for IRS tax purposes. (§99.31(a)(8))
• To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena. (§99.31(a)(9)) 
• To appropriate officials in connection with a health or safety emergency, subject to §99.36. (§99.31(a)(10) 
• Information the school has designated as “directory information” under §99.37. (§99.31(a)(11))

Military and Higher Education Access 
The district will disclose the names, addresses and telephone numbers of secondary school students to military recruiters or institutions of higher education as required by law. However, if a parent, or a secondary school student who is at least 18, submits a written request, the district will not release the information without first obtaining written consent from the parent or the student. The district will notify parents, and secondary school students who are at least 18, that they may opt out of these disclosures. 

Notice for Directory Information
 – The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), a Federal law, requires that our schools, with certain exceptions, obtain a parent/guardian’s written consent prior to the disclosure of personally identifiable information from a child’s education records.  However, our schools may disclose appropriately designated “directory information” without written consent, unless the parent/guardian has advised the school to the contrary in accordance with school district procedures.  The primary purpose of directory information is to allow our schools to include this type of information from a child’s education records in certain school publications.  Examples include:

• A playbill, showing your student’s role in a drama production;
• The annual school yearbook;
• Recognitions or participation in classroom or school activities shared in social media or publication;
• Graduation programs; and
• Sports activity sheets, such as for wrestling, showing weight and height of team members.

Directory information, which is information that is generally not considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if released, can also be disclosed to outside organizations without a parent’s prior written consent.  Outside organizations include, but are not limited to, companies that manufacture class rings or publish yearbooks.  In addition, two federal laws require local educational agencies (LEAs) receiving assistance under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) to provide military recruiters, upon request, with the following information – names, addresses and telephone listings – unless parents have advised the LEA that they do not want their student’s information disclosed without their prior written consent. [1] 

If you do not want your child’s school to disclose directory information from your child’s education records without your prior written consent, you must notify the principal of the school in writing within 10 days of receiving this notification.

The following information is included in what the Grain Valley School District has designated as directory information: 

• Student’s name                                                
• Parents’ names
• Participation in officially recognized activities and sports
• Weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Photograph, videotape, digital image, recorded
• sound
• Degrees, honors, and awards received
• Artwork or coursework on display
• Date and place of birth                                     
• Dates of attendance
• The most recent educational agency or institution attended
• Grade level
• Student ID number, user ID, or other unique personal identifier used to communicate in electronic systems that cannot be used to access education records without a PIN, password, etc. (A student’s SSN, in whole or in part, cannot be used for this purpose.) 
• Enrollment status (e.g., full-time or part-time)

Students in foster care face unusual educational challenges. It is our goal to provide students in foster care with educational stability and remove barriers to, and provide opportunities for, academic excellence for these students. In order to achieve this purpose, the district will work collaboratively with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) and the Children's Division (CD) of the Missouri Department of Social Services.

Foster Care – Twenty-four-hour substitute care for children placed away from their parents/guardians and for whom the CD has placement and care responsibility. This includes, but is not limited to, placement in foster family homes, foster homes of relatives, group homes, emergency shelters, residential facilities, childcare institutions and pre-adoptive homes, regardless of whether the home, shelter, facility or institution is licensed or receives payments from the state.

Foster Care Student – Any pre-K–12 student who is residing in a foster care setting in this state or who is awaiting foster care.

School of Origin – The school or preschool in which the student was enrolled at the time of placement in foster care. If the student's placement changes, the school of origin is the school or preschool in which the student was enrolled at the time of the change.

The district designates the following individual as the liaison for foster care students: Dr. Carrie Reich, Director of Student Services; 101 NW Sni-A-Bar Parkway, Grain Valley, MO 64029-0304; Phone (816) 847-5006 x1; Fax (816) 229-4831; E-mail: creich@gvr5.net.

The liaison will provide assistance regarding all aspects of the enrollment, placement, transfer, and withdrawal of children in foster care and serve as the point of contact for DESE and the CD. The liaison will also work with DESE and the CD to implement the district's complaint resolution process.

Students in a foster care placement located within the boundaries of the district will be educated in the school of origin unless it is not in the best interest of the student to do so. A student placed in the school of origin will remain in the school of origin for the duration of the time he or she is in foster care. If it is not in the best interest of the student to stay in the school of origin, the Grain Valley R-V School District will immediately enroll the student, even if the student is unable to produce records normally required for enrollment, and will contact the school of origin to obtain relevant records.

Foster care students who attend school in the district because attending the school of origin was not in their best interest will be initially placed in the same courses and programs the students were in while attending the previous district to the extent this district offers such courses and programs. Such placements may include, but are not limited to: honors classes; vocational, technical and career pathway courses; and International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP), English Learner (EL), special education and gifted programs. If necessary, the district will waive course or program prerequisites or other preconditions for placement in courses or programs offered at the district. After placement, the district may perform additional evaluations to ensure that the student has been placed appropriately and may change the student's placement after consultation with the student's foster parent.

Within three days of the student enrolling, the liaison will organize a meeting or consultation to determine which placement is in the best interest of the student. The meeting or consultation will include a representative of the CD; the foster parents; the parents/guardians and student, if appropriate; and any other person requested by the student, the foster parents or the CD who has a special relationship with the student. These individuals will be considered the best interest determination (BID) team and will determine the best placement for the student. If the BID team cannot reach a consensus as to the best placement, the representative from the CD will make the final determination.

The district of placement may bill the district of residence for local tax effort in accordance with law.

If the parent/guardian, foster parent, student or educational decision maker disputes that the placement assigned by the BID team or CD is in the student's best interest, he or she may contact the liaison in an effort to resolve the dispute. If the liaison is not able to resolve the dispute, the parent/guardian, foster parent, student or educational decision maker may request a conference with the superintendent or designee. The superintendent or designee will meet with the parent/guardian, foster parent, student or educational decision maker and the pertinent members of the BID team in an effort to resolve the dispute.
If the superintendent or designee is unable to resolve the dispute, the parent/guardian or educational decision maker may appeal the placement to: State Foster Care Coordinator; P.O. Box 480; Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480; (573) 751-4192.

If the BID team determines that the school of origin is the best placement for a foster care student, the student will be transported to the school of origin in accordance with the transportation plan developed in collaboration with the CD. Transportation will be provided in a cost-effective manner and in accordance with law.

Disputes over transportation will be handled in the same manner as disputes over placement.

The foster care liaison will provide foster parents and other legal guardians access to student records. In accordance with law, the district will allow a child placement agency access to a foster care student's records for the purposes of assisting the school transfer or placement of a student and fulfilling educational case management responsibilities required by the juvenile officer or by law.

The liaison will ensure that student records are properly transferred between the Grain Valley R-V School District and any other district from or to which foster students transfer. When a request involves a foster care student, the liaison will:

1. Respond within three business days to a request for records by another district, and
2.  Request records from other districts within two days of enrolling a student.

If a student in foster care is absent from school due to a decision by a court or child-placing agency to change the student's placement or due to a verified court appearance or related court-ordered activity, the grades and credit of the student will be calculated as of the date the student left school, and the district will not lower the student's grade as a result of absence under these circumstances.

The district will encourage foster care students to participate in extracurricular activities and assist them in joining extracurricular activities. Locally imposed application deadlines for participation in extracurricular activities will be waived for foster care students who are otherwise eligible to participate in the activities. Participation in activities governed by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) will be permitted in accordance with the rules established by MSHSAA. Foster care students are automatically eligible for participation in the district's free nutrition program.

In order to facilitate timely graduation of foster care students, the district will:

1. Waive specific courses required for graduation if similar course work has been satisfactorily completed in another school. If such course work is not waived, the district will provide reasonable justification for the denial.
2. Accept the results of exit exams, end-of-course exams, nationally norm-referenced tests or alternative testing from another school to satisfy district testing requirements related to graduation.
3. Accept for credit full or partial course work completed at the previous school attended in accordance with district policy.

If a foster care student who enrolls in the district at the beginning of or during his or her senior year cannot meet the district's graduation requirements by the end of the senior year, even after all alternatives have been considered, the liaison will contact the student's previous district to determine if the student is eligible to receive a diploma from the previous school.

The Grain Valley R-V School District will award a diploma to foster care students who transfer out of the district at the beginning of or during the senior year if, considering all courses, tests and attendance at the school to which the student transferred, the student has met the Grain Valley R-V School District graduation requirements.

Adapted from Policy IGBE

All responsible public agencies are required to locate, evaluate, and identify children with disabilities who are under the jurisdiction of the agency, regardless of the severity of the disability, including children attending private schools, children who live outside the district but are attending a private school within the district, highly mobile children, such as migrant and homeless children, children who are wards of the state, and children who are suspected of having a disability and in need of special education even though they are advancing from grade to grade.

The Grain Valley School District assures that it will provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) to all eligible children with disabilities between the ages of 3 and 21 under its jurisdiction.

Disabilities include autism, deaf/blindness, emotional disorders, hearing impairment and deafness, intellectual disability, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairments, specific learning disabilities, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, visual impairment/blindness and young child with a developmental delay.

The Grain Valley School District assures that it will provide information and referral services necessary to assist the State in the implementation of early intervention services for infants and toddlers eligible for the Missouri First Steps program.

The Grain Valley School District assures that personally identifiable information collected, used, or maintained by the agency for the purposes of identification, evaluation, placement or provision of FAPE of children with disabilities may be inspected and/or reviewed by their parents/guardians. Parents/guardians may request amendment to the educational record if the parent/guardian believes the record is inaccurate, misleading, or violates the privacy or other rights of their child. Parents have the right to file complaints with the U.S. Department of Education or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education concerning alleged failures by the district to meet the requirements of the Family Educational Rights and The Grain Valley School District has developed a Local Compliance Plan for the implementation of State Regulations for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 
 

This plan contains the agency’s policies and procedures regarding storage, disclosure to third parties, retention and destruction of personally identifiable information and the agency’s assurances that services are provided in compliance with the General Education Provision Act (GEPA). This plan may be reviewed by contacting the Director of Special Services, Grain Valley School District, during normal school business hours.

This notice will be provided in native languages as appropriate.

Adapted from Policy AC.

General Rule
The Grain Valley R-V School District Board of Education is committed to maintaining a workplace and educational environment that is free from illegal discrimination, harassment and retaliation in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its programs, services, activities and facilities. In accordance with law, the district strictly prohibits discrimination and harassment against employees, students or others on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. The Grain Valley R-V School District is an equal opportunity employer.

The board also prohibits:

1. Retaliatory actions including, but not limited to, acts of intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination against those who: a) Make complaints of illegal discrimination or harassment; b) Report illegal discrimination or harassment; c) Participate in an investigation, formal proceeding or informal resolution, whether conducted internally or outside the district, concerning illegal discrimination or harassment.
2. Aiding, abetting, inciting, compelling or coercing illegal discrimination, harassment or retaliatory actions.
3. Discrimination, harassment or retaliation against any person because of such person’s association with a person protected from discrimination or harassment in accordance with this policy and law.

As used in this policy, “discrimination, harassment or retaliation” has the same meaning as “illegal discrimination, harassment or retaliation” and is limited to acts prohibited by law. All employees, students and visitors must immediately report to the district for investigation any incident or behavior that could constitute discrimination, harassment or retaliation in accordance with this policy. If a student alleges sexual misconduct on the part of any district employee to any person employed by the district, that person will immediately report the allegation to the Children’s Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services in accordance with state law.

Sexual Harassment Reporting and District Response
Sexual harassment is prohibited under this policy and policy ACA, but policy ACA applies only to a narrower category of sexual harassment under Title IX, as defined in the federal regulations. All sexual harassment reports must be made to the Title IX coordinator identified in policy ACA and evaluated for policy ACA applicability. If a sexual harassment report is made to any other district employee, the report must be promptly referred to the Title IX coordinator for intake. Incidents of alleged sexual 
harassment that are not investigated under policy ACA may be referred for processing under this policy.
 
Additional Prohibited Behavior
Behavior that is not unlawful or does not rise to the level of illegal discrimination, harassment or retaliation might still be unacceptable for the workplace or the educational environment. The district encourages students, employees and the public to report such behavior so that it can be promptly addressed, but the grievance process in this policy is reserved for allegations of illegal discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

• Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act
• Interim Measures
• Consequences and Remedies
• Compliance Officer Duties
• Public Notice
• Student-on-Student Harassment
• Investigation
• Collaboration With Outside Agencies
• Grievance Process
• Confidentiality and Records
• Training

School Nutrition Programs
In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its agencies, offices and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs (including the district), are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by the USDA. These programs include the National School Lunch Program, the Special Milk Program, the School Breakfast Program and the Summer Food Service Program.

Any person or representative alleging discrimination based on a prohibited basis has the right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discriminatory action with the USDA Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights or the district’s compliance officer using the process outlined in policy EF.
 
Definitions
Compliance Officer – The individual responsible for implementing this policy, including the acting compliance officer when performing duties of the compliance officer.

Grievance – A verbal or written report (also known as a complaint) of discrimination, harassment or retaliation made to the compliance officer.

Harassment – A form of discrimination, as defined above, that occurs when the school or work environment becomes permeated with intimidation, ridicule or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive enough that it unreasonably alters the employment or educational environment.

Behaviors that could constitute illegal harassment include, but are not limited to, the following acts if based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law or based on a belief that such a characteristic exists: graffiti; display of written material, pictures or electronic images; name calling, teasing or taunting; insults, derogatory remarks or slurs; jokes; gestures; threatening, intimidating or hostile acts; physical acts of aggression, assault or violence; theft; or damage to property.

Sexual Harassment – A form of discrimination, as defined above, on the basis of sex. Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct that occurs when a) benefits or decisions are implicitly or explicitly conditioned upon submission to, or punishment is applied for refusing to comply with, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or conduct of a sexual nature; or b) the school or work environment becomes permeated with intimidation, ridicule or insult that is based on sex or is sexual in nature and that is sufficiently severe or pervasive enough to alter the conditions of participation in the district’s programs and activities or the conditions of employment. Sexual harassment may occur between members of the same or opposite sex. The district presumes a student cannot consent to behavior of a sexual nature with an adult regardless of the circumstance. “Sexual Harassment under Title IX” is a subset of this definition, and the district’s response to qualifying allegations is set forth in policy ACA.

Behaviors that could constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:

1. Sexual advances and requests or pressure of any kind for sexual favors, activities or contact.
2. Conditioning grades, promotions, rewards or privileges on submission to sexual favors, activities or contact
3. Punishing or reprimanding persons who refuse to comply with sexual requests, activities or contact
4. Graffiti, name calling, slurs, jokes, gestures or communications of a sexual nature or based on sex.
5. Physical contact or touching of a sexual nature, including touching of intimate parts and sexually motivated or inappropriate patting, pinching or rubbing.
6. Comments about an individual’s body, sexual activity or sexual attractiveness.
7. Physical sexual acts of aggression, assault or violence, including criminal offenses (such as rape, sexual assault or battery, and sexually motivated stalking) against a person’s will or when a person is not capable of giving consent due to the person’s age, intellectual disability or use of drugs or alcohol.
8. Gender-based harassment and acts of verbal, nonverbal, written, graphic or physical conduct based on sex or sex stereotyping, but not involving conduct of a sexual nature.

Working Days – Days on which the district’s business offices are open.
 
Compliance Officer

The board designates the following individual to act as the district’s compliance officer:

Dr. Carrie Reich, Director of Student Services
101 NW Sni-A-Bar Parkway, P. O. Box 304
Grain Valley, Missouri, 64029.
Phone: (816) 847-5006 / Fax: (816) 229-4831

In the event the compliance officer is unavailable or is the subject of a report that would otherwise be made to the compliance officer, reports should instead be directed to the acting compliance officer:

Director of Human Resources
101 NW Sni-A-Bar Parkway, P. O. Box 304, 
Grain Valley, Missouri, 64029
Phone: (816) 847-5006 ext. 1005 / Fax: (816) 229-4831
 

Reporting
Students, employees and others may attempt to resolve minor issues by addressing concerns directly to the person alleged to have violated this policy, but they are not expected or required to do so. Any attempts to voluntarily resolve a grievance will not delay the investigation once a report has been made to the district.
 
Reports Involving Sexual Harassment
In cases involving sexual harassment, all persons must report incidents directly to the Title IX coordinator for evaluation under policy ACA. All district employees will instruct all persons seeking to make a report or complaint to communicate directly with the Title IX coordinator. Even if the suspected victim of discrimination, harassment or retaliation does not report on their own behalf, district employees are required to report to the Title IX coordinator any observations, rumors or other information about actions prohibited by this policy and policy ACA.
 
All Other Reports
Unless the concern is otherwise voluntarily resolved, all persons must report incidents that might constitute discrimination, harassment or retaliation directly to the compliance officer or acting compliance officer. All district employees will instruct all persons seeking to file a grievance to communicate directly with the compliance officer. Even if the suspected victim of discrimination, harassment or retaliation does not file a grievance, district employees are required to report to the compliance officer any observations, rumors or other information about actions prohibited by this policy. If a person refuses or is unable to submit a written complaint, the compliance officer will summarize the verbal complaint in writing. A grievance is not needed for the district to act upon finding a violation of law, district policy or district expectations.

Even if a grievance under this policy is not directly filed, 
if the compliance officer otherwise learns about possible discrimination, harassment or retaliation, including violence, the district will conduct a prompt, impartial, adequate, reliable and thorough investigation to determine whether unlawful conduct occurred and will implement the appropriate interim measures if necessary.

On January 29th, 2025, PowerSchool initiated the process of notifying individuals whose information was determined to be involved in a cybersecurity incident with PowerSchool, the software vendor that provides our Student Information System (SIS). 

PowerSchool has involved Experian, a trusted credit reporting agency, to provide complimentary identity protection and credit monitoring services to current and former students and educators whose information was exfiltrated from PowerSchool SIS. PowerSchool is doing this regardless of whether an individual's Social Security Number was exfiltrated. Experian (on behalf of PowerSchool) will distribute direct email notifications to involved individuals (or their parent/guardian, as applicable) for whom PowerSchool has sufficient contact information. 

Additionally, PowerSchool has worked with Experian to set up a dedicated, toll-free call center to answer any questions associated with those offerings and the incident. All the information regarding the activation of and access to these services will be included in the email sent to individuals by Experian. Whether or not you receive an email, you may also visit PowerSchool's website to learn how to activate the offering from Experian, linked here: PowerSchool Cybersecurity Information.

Adapted from Policy ACA

Policy ACA adopted September 3, 2020

Read the full policy language


The Grain Valley School District does not discriminate on the basis of sex in its education programs and activities, including employment and admissions, as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX). All forms of sex-based discrimination are prohibited in the district, but this policy focuses exclusively on sexual harassment as defined in Title IX that occurs within the education programs and activities of the district. However, the district will respond promptly to investigate and address any report or complaint of sexual harassment.

"Sexual harassment under Title IX" is conduct on the basis of sex within the scope of the district's education programs or activities (as defined in this policy) that satisfies one or more of the following:

1. An employee of the district conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit or service of the district on an individual's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
2. Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the district's education program or activity; or
3. "Sexual assault" as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v), "dating violence" as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(10), "domestic violence" as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(8) or "stalking" as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30).

If a student alleges sexual misconduct on the part of any district employee to any person employed by the district, that person will immediately report the allegation to the Children's Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services in accordance with state law and district policy. Moreover, nothing in the policy precludes the mandatory or voluntary reporting of any suspected criminal activity to the appropriate law enforcement agency at any time.
 

Reporting Sexual Harassment or Title IX Retaliation

Any person may report sexual harassment regardless of whether the person is the alleged victim (complainant). However, Board members and employees must immediately report to the Title IX coordinator any incident or behavior that could constitute sexual harassment or retaliation in accordance with this policy. Reports may be made at any time, including during nonbusiness hours, by using the telephone number, email address or office address listed below.

The Board authorizes the following individual(s) to serve as the Title IX coordinator(s) for the Grain Valley R-V School District and coordinate and implement the district's efforts to comply with the requirements of Title IX.

Dr. Carrie Reich, Director of Student Services
P O Box 304, 101 NW Sni-A-Bar Parkway
Grain Valley, MO 64029; (816) 847-5006, Fax: (816) 229-4831
Contact Dr. Carrie Reich.

In the event the Title IX coordinator is unavailable or is the respondent to a complaint, reports should instead be directed to the compliance officer or alternate compliance officer listed in policy AC.

Training
Title IX Coordinator training slides.

Revised:7/15/25

Notice of the Policy against Discrimination on the Basis of Sex

The district will provide notice of the district's prohibition on discrimination on the basis of sex under district policy and Title IX to students, parents/guardians, employees, applicants for admission and employment, and all unions or professional associations holding collective bargaining or professional agreements with the district.

The district's policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sex and the contact information of the Title IX coordinator(s) will be prominently displayed on the district's website and in each handbook or course catalog.
 

Title IX Grievance Process upon Filing of a Formal Complaint

The district's grievance process will provide a prompt and equitable resolution of complaints and will:

1. Treat complainants and respondents equitably by providing remedies to a complainant where a determination of responsibility for sexual harassment has been made against the respondent;
2. Comply with Title IX regulations before imposing any disciplinary sanctions or other actions that are not supportive measures against a respondent;
3. Require a decision-maker to objectively evaluate all relevant evidence, including both inculpatory and exculpatory evidence, and not make credibility determinations based on a person's status as a complainant, respondent or witness;
4. Require that all Title IX coordinators, investigators, those responsible for facilitating informal resolution processes and decision-makers not have a conflict of interest or bias for or against complainants or respondents generally or an individual complainant or respondent;
5. Presume that the respondent is not responsible for the conduct until a determination of responsibility is made at the conclusion of the grievance process;
6. Follow stated timelines unless the district temporarily delays the grievance process for good cause (including, but not limited to, the absence of a party, a party's advisor, or a witness; concurrent law enforcement activity; or the need for language assistance or accommodation of a disability) and notify the parties in writing of the reason for a delay, if any; and
7. Not require, allow, rely upon or otherwise use questions or evidence that constitutes, or seeks disclosure of, information protected under a legally recognized privilege unless the person holding such privilege has waived the privilege.

Notice to the Parties

When the complainant files a formal complaint, written notice will be provided to all known parties and will include:

1. Notice of the grievance process, including any informal resolution process that is available and the timeline for such process.
2. Notice of the allegations of sexual harassment under Title IX made by the complainant with sufficient details known at the time and with sufficient time to allow the respondent to prepare before the initial interview. At a minimum, the details will include the identities of the parties involved in the incident, if known, the conduct and the date and location of the alleged incident if known.
3. A statement that the respondent is presumed not responsible for the conduct and that a determination of responsibility will be made at the conclusion of the grievance process.
4.  A statement that parties may have an advisor of their choice, who may be an attorney.
5. A statement that the parties and their advisors will have an equal opportunity to inspect and review any evidence that is directly related to the allegations raised in the formal complaint, including evidence upon which the district does not intend to rely, so that each party can meaningfully respond to the evidence prior to conclusion of the investigation.
6. Notice of any provision in the district's discipline code that prohibits knowingly making a false statement or providing false information during the grievance process.

If in the course of the investigation of sexual harassment under Title IX the district decides to investigate allegations about the complainant or respondent that were not in the initial notice, notice of the additional allegations will be provided to all known parties.

See the full policy language in the Board Policy Manual for details regarding:

• Interim Action
• Investigating a Formal Complaint
• Dismissal of the Formal Complaint

Decision-Maker's Findings and Resulting Remedies

Within 20 business days after the closing of the questions period, including follow-up questions, the decision-maker will provide a written Title IX decision that includes:

1. The allegations potentially constituting sexual harassment under Title IX;
2. A description of the procedural steps taken from the receipt of the formal complaint through the determination, including any notifications to the parties, interviews with parties and witnesses, site visits and other methods used to gather other evidence and hearings held;
3. Findings of fact supporting the determination;
4. Conclusions regarding the application of the facts to the district's code of conduct and, if the student code of conduct is implicated, a referral of a student respondent to district officials charged generally with the discipline of students pursuant to Missouri law;
5. A statement of and rationale for the result as to each allegation, including a determination of responsibility, any disciplinary actions recommended to the district to be imposed on the respondent, and whether remedies designed to restore or preserve equal access to the district's education program or activity will be provided to the complainant; and
6. The procedures and permissible bases for the complainant and respondent to appeal.

The written Title IX decision will be provided to the parties simultaneously, and a copy will be provided to the Title IX coordinator.

See the full policy language at in the Board Policy Manual for details regarding:

• Finality of the Title IX Decision 
• Disciplinary Matters and Implementation of Discipline and Remedies 
• Appeals of the Determinations of Responsibility in the Title IX Decision 
• Process for Informal Resolution of Formal Complaints 
• Confidentiality

All meetings are at 4:15pm and are done through Google meet. Email Denise Holmberg if you would like to attend a virtual meeting.

09/24/25

12/10/25

02/11/26

04/15/26