The U.S. Department of Justice has reached an agreement with Ellensburg School District in Washington State to address issues of harassment and discrimination against students based on sex, race, color, and national origin. This follows a joint investigation by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.
The investigation revealed that Black, Latino, and LGBTQ+ students faced significant harassment, including verbal abuse and physical assaults. The school district reportedly failed to respond adequately despite being aware of these incidents. As a result, some students avoided school activities or transferred schools due to fear for their safety.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated: “All students, whether Black, Latino or LGBTQ+, have a right to attend school free from fear and harassment.” She emphasized that schools should provide safe environments for all students.
U.S. Attorney Vanessa Waldref acknowledged the cooperation of Ellensburg School District during the investigation: “The U.S. Attorney’s Office commends the Ellensburg School District for its full cooperation throughout the investigation.” She noted that the agreement aims to improve educational conditions through better responses to harassment reports.
The investigation began in August 2023 under Titles IV and VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. It involved reviewing records from recent school years and interviewing over 100 individuals connected with the district.
Under the settlement terms, Ellensburg School District will undertake several reforms:
- Hiring a third-party consultant.
- Appointing a coordinator for handling harassment reports.
- Assigning a Spanish-speaking liaison for Latino families.
- Establishing an electronic system for tracking harassment reports.
- Updating policies for prompt responses to complaints.
- Training staff and students on recognizing harassment.
- Conducting annual assessments through surveys and sessions with stakeholders.
These measures aim to create a supportive learning environment by addressing harassment effectively.
For more information about civil rights protections enforced by the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, visit www.justice.gov/crt. Reports on potential civil rights violations can be submitted at www.civilrights.justice.gov/.