Responsibilities of the Office for Civil Rights

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR), in the U.S. Department of Education (Department), is a law enforcement agency charged with enforcing federal laws to ensure that educational institutions receiving federal financial assistance do not engage in discriminatory conduct. OCR enforces the federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the bases of race, color, national origin, sex, disability and age in programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance from the Department. The civil rights laws represent a national commitment to end discrimination in educational programs or activities. These laws are:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (prohibits race, color and national origin discrimination);
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (prohibits sex discrimination);
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (prohibits disability discrimination);
• Age Discrimination Act of 1975 (prohibits age discrimination); and
• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (prohibits disability discrimination by public entities, including public school districts, public colleges and universities, public vocational schools and public libraries, whether or not they receive federal financial assistance).

In addition, OCR enforces the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, part of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Under the Boy Scouts of America Equal Access Act, no public elementary school, public secondary school or state or local education agency that provides an opportunity for one or more outside youth or community groups to meet on school premises or in school facilities before or after school hours shall deny equal access or a fair opportunity to meet to, or discriminate against, any group officially affiliated with the Boy Scouts of America, or any other youth group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code as a patriotic society.

Most of OCR's activities take place in the enforcement offices located around the nation. In Washington, D.C., the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights provides overall leadership and coordination.