HVAM Title IX and Non-Discrimination Notice
Title IX Coordinator
Julia Zoutendyk
Student Support Administrator
[email protected]
210 E. Mesick Ave. Mesick, MI 49668
855.337.8243 Ext. 7008
Non-Discrimination Equal Educational Opportunity Policy
Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan shall not discriminate in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religion, ancestry, or any other legally protected classification. This policy is in accordance with state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act of 2009, and the Michigan Human Relations Act. Information relative to special accommodation, grievance, procedure, and the designated responsible official for compliance with Title VI, Title IX, and Section 504 may be obtained by contacting the school.
Nondiscrimination On The Basis Of Sex In Education Programs Or Activities (Title IX)
The Board of Directors of the Highpoint Virtual Academy of Michigan does not discriminate on the basis of sex and prohibits sex discrimination in any education program or activity that it operates, as required by Title IX, including in admission and employment.
Discrimination on the basis of sex includes discrimination on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
The Board is committed to maintaining an education and work environment that is free from sex discrimination (including sex-based harassment), responding promptly and effectively when it has knowledge of conduct that reasonably may constitute sex discrimination, and addressing sex discrimination in its education program or activity. Persons who commit sex-based harassment are subject to the full range of disciplinary sanctions set forth in its policy. The Board will provide persons who have experienced sex-based harassment ongoing remedies as reasonably necessary to restore or preserve access to the Academy’s education program or activity.
Definitions: (See Policy for Full List of Definitions)
Complainant means:
- a student or employee who is alleged to have been subjected to conduct that could constitute sex discrimination under Title IX; or
- a person other than a student or employee who is alleged to have been subjected to conduct that could constitute sex discrimination under Title IX and who was participating or attempting to participate in the Academy’s education program or activity at the time of the alleged sex discrimination.
Complaint means: an oral or written request to the Academy that objectively can be understood as a request for the Academy to investigate and make a determination about alleged discrimination under Title IX.
Sex-based harassment prohibited under this policy and the 2024 Title IX regulations is a form of sex discrimination and means sexual harassment and other harassment on the basis of sex – including on the basis of sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Supportive measures means: individualized measures offered as appropriate, as reasonably available, without unreasonably burdening a complainant or respondent, not for punitive or disciplinary reasons, and without fee or charge to the complainant or respondent to:
- restore or preserve that party’s access to the Academy’s education program or activity, including measures that are designed to protect the safety of the parties or the Academy’s educational environment; or
- provide support during the Board’s grievance procedures or an informal resolution process.
Grievance Procedure
The Board adopts the following grievance procedures to provide for the prompt and equitable resolution of complaints made by students, employees, or other individuals who are participating or attempting to participate in the Academy’s education program or activity, or by the Title IX Coordinator, alleging any action that would be prohibited by Title IX.
Complaints
Complaints may be made to the Title IX Coordinator by any means including this complaint form.
The following people may make a complaint of sex discrimination – i.e., request that the Academy investigate and make a determination about whether sex discrimination as prohibited under Title IX occurred:
- a “complainant,” which includes:
- a student or employee of the Academy who is alleged to have been subjected to conduct that could constitute sex discrimination under Title IX; or
- a person other than a student or employee of the Academy who is alleged to have been subjected to conduct that could constitute sex discrimination under Title IX at a time when that individual was participating or attempting to participate in the Academy’s education program or activity;
- a parent, guardian, or other authorized legal representative with the legal right to act on behalf of a complainant;
- the Academy’s Title IX Coordinator.
A person is entitled to make a complaint of sex-based harassment only if they themselves are alleged to have been subjected to the sex-based harassment, if they have a legal right to act on behalf of such person who was subjected to the sex-based harassment, or if the Title IX Coordinator initiates a complaint consistent with the requirements of the 2024 Title IX regulations.
With respect to complaints of sex discrimination other than sex-based harassment, in addition to the people listed above, the following persons have a right to make a complaint:
- any student or employee of the Academy; or
- any person other than a student or employee who was participating or attempting to participate in the Academy’s education program or activity at the time of the alleged sex discrimination.
HVAM Staff Title IX Training
All HVAM staff are trained on Title IX via SafeSchool Training in the areas of Sexual Harassment (Staff and Student), Regulatory and Subregulatory Guidance, Relevant Terminology, School Policy and Federal School Guidelines.
HVAM Title IX Coordinator Training
HVAM’s Title IX Coordinator and Head of School have been trained in policy, grievance procedure, investigation through Thrun Law Firm per the following training guidance.
Dissemination of Information
HVAM shall notify applicants for admission and employment, students, parents/guardians of elementary and secondary school students, employees, and sources of referral of applicants for admission and employment that it does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the educational programs or activities which it operates, and that it is required by Title IX and its administrative regulations not to discriminate in such a manner. The notification shall be made in the form and manner required by law or regulation.
Michigan Department of Education has issued the following additional guidance here