In addition to resolving complaints, OCR initiates compliance reviews and takes
other proactive steps to focus on specific compliance problems that are particularly
acute or national in scope. In general, targeted compliance reviews and proactive
initiatives maximize the impact of OCR's resources and complement the complaint
resolution process. Experience indicates that these strategic activities benefit
large numbers of students through policy or program changes by recipients that
are designed to ensure compliance with the civil rights laws.
OCR initiated 74 compliance reviews in FY 2003 and brought 14 reviews to successful
resolution, some of which had been started in previous years. Compliance review
sites are selected based on various sources of information, including survey data
and information provided by parents, education groups, media, community organizations
and the public. In FY 2003, OCR conducted compliance reviews on the following
issues:
- ensuring that minority and English language learner students are not inappropriately
placed in special education programs; and
- ensuring that state agencies have designated Title IX coordinators, developed
and disseminated antidiscrimination procedures, and implemented grievance procedures.