Student Protections

Dating violence is the use of harmful or threatening behaviors to control another person in a relationship of a romantic or intimate nature or a romantic interest, regardless of sex or gender identity. These behaviors can occur in a relationship that is either ongoing, has concluded, or if there have been limited interactions between the individuals involved. Dating violence includes, but is not limited to, physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, and sexual abuse, whether in person or via electronic communication. Dating violence may also constitute sexual harassment under Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972.

Milwaukee Public Schools takes dating violence seriously, and such violence is not tolerated in the District. If you or someone you know has or may be experiencing dating violence, please contact a trusted adult or school administrator to report it and receive additional support.

MPS is committed to providing the best education possible for every child in the district as long as the student can benefit from attendance and their conduct is compatible with the welfare of the entire student body. This includes a policy of nondiscrimination and acceptance of diversity (Board Policy 2260–Nondiscrimination and Access to Equal Educational Opportunity; 2260.01–Section 504/ADA Prohibition Against Discrimination Based on Disability).

Under Section 118.13 and PI 9 – Wisconsin Administrative Code Policy

In MPS, as required by Wisconsin Statutes §118.13 and PI 9, no person may be denied admission to any public school or be denied participation in, be denied the benefits of or be discriminated against in any curricular, extracurricular, pupil services, recreational or other program or activity because of the person’s sex, race, religion, national origin, ancestry, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental status, sexual orientation or physical, mental, emotional, or learning disability.

This policy also prohibits discrimination under related federal statutes, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (race, color, and national origin), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (sex), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (disability) and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (disability).

If You Believe Your Child Has Been Discriminated Against

Board Policy 2266– Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities

Any complaints regarding the interpretation, application, or possible violations of the district’s student nondiscrimination policy shall be addressed in accordance with the following procedures:
If any person believes that MPS, or any school district official or employee, has engaged in discrimination that is prohibited by section 118.13, Wis. Stats., they may bring or send a written complaint to the following designated district employee:

Catherine Coleman, Director of Title IX & Student Protections
Room 133, P.O. Box 2181, 5225 W. Vliet St.
Milwaukee, WI 53201-2181

The designated employee, upon receiving such a written complaint, shall immediately record the receipt of the written complaint. Within 45 days after receiving the written complaint, the designated employee shall provide the complainant with written acknowledgement of the receipt of the written complaint, including the date the complaint was received.

Under Wisconsin Statute §118.13 and PI 9: If a complainant wishes to appeal the determination of the committee, they have the right to appeal the decision to the state superintendent within 30 days of the committee’s decision. The complainant may also appeal directly to the state superintendent if the school district or its employees have failed to comply with the provisions of Wisconsin Statute §118.13 or PI 9.04(2). Any appeal should be addressed to:

State Superintendent, Department of Public Instruction
P.O. Box 7841, 125 S. Webster St.
Madison, WI 53707

Appeals under 20 U.S.C. sec. 1415 and Chapter 115, Wisconsin Statutes, relating to the identification, evaluation, education placement, or the provision of a free and appropriate public education of a child with a disability, shall be resolved through the procedures authorized by Chapter 115, sub chapter V,  Wisconsin Statutes. Complaints under 20 USC1231 e-3 and 34 CFR secs. 76.780-76.782 alleging that the state or a sub-grantee is violating a federal statute or regulation that applies to a program shall be referred directly to the state superintendent. Discrimination complaints on some of the above bases may also be filed with the federal government using the following contact information:

Office for Civil Rights – U.S. Department of Education
Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Blvd., Suite 310
Denver, CO 80204-3582
phone: (303) 844-5695
fax: (303) 844-4303
TDD: (800) 877-8339
email: OCR.Denver@ed.gov

Sex-based discrimination includes sexual harassment; gender-based harassment; sexual violence; discrimination based on pregnancy and related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex stereotypes; and the failure to provide equal opportunities in employment, admission, enrollment, or any educational programs or activities.

It is the policy of MPS (Board Policy 2266–Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Sex in Education Programs or Activities) to maintain an environment that is free of sexual harassment. Any form of sexual harassment is prohibited. This includes unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, sexually motivated physical contact, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Any student or MPS employee whose conduct toward or communication with another student or MPS employee is of a sexual nature and is sufficiently severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it denies or limits a person’s ability to participate in or benefit from the district’s education programs, activities, or employment is in violation of this policy. This policy applies to conduct within the district’s education programs and activities, as well as off-campus conduct that creates a hostile environment within a district school or workplace.

Initial Report and Intake

The district maintains a comprehensive grievance process to resolve complaints of sex discrimination and sexual harassment filed by students, parents, employees, or individuals participating or attempting to participate in an MPS educational program or activity. Any individual who believes they have experienced or witnessed sexual harassment may submit a report directly through Guardian, the official MPS Title IX reporting platform, or directly to a school principal or the District Title IX Coordinator. 

Upon receipt of a report, the Title IX coordinator will promptly contact the complainant to implement supportive measures and a safety plan to ensure safety and continued access to education. If a formal complaint is initiated, the Title IX Coordinator will assign an impartial investigator to gather evidence. The investigator will conduct separate interviews with all parties and witnesses. If appropriate and voluntarily agreed to by both parties, the matter may be resolved through an informal resolution process. If a formal process is required, disciplinary actions may be imposed only after a separate, designated decision-maker reviews the completed investigative report and issues a final written determination. A confidential record of the proceedings and outcomes will be securely maintained by the district.

Formal Grievance Resolution Internal Appeals

The district is committed to a prompt and equitable resolution of all Title IX complaints. Formal investigations are managed and tracked directly by the district’s central administration rather than at the individual school level. If a party believes a temporary safety plan or resolution is not being followed or wishes to check the status of an ongoing investigation, they should contact the Director of Title IX & Student Protections at (414) 475-8449 or by email at titleix@milwaukeepublicschools.org.

Following the conclusion of an investigation and the issuance of a final written determination by a designated decision-maker, both the complainant and respondent have the right to file an internal administrative appeal within the district. If a party has exhausted the district’s internal grievance and appeal processes and believes the district remains in violation of federal law, they may file an external appeal with the federal monitoring agency: 

Office for Civil Rights – U.S. Department of Education
Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building, 1244 Speer Blvd., Suite 310
Denver, CO 80204-3582
phone: (303) 844-5695
fax: (303) 844-4303
TDD: (800) 877-8339
email: OCR.Denver@ed.gov

Any student who believes they have been subjected to sexual harassment or sex-based discrimination by an MPS employee, contractor, volunteer, or private citizen within a district educational program or activity must contact the school principal or the Title IX Coordinator, or submit a report through the Guardian platform. All such allegations will be routed immediately to the Director of Title IX & Student Protections for formal jurisdictional evaluation. The district will investigate all complaints using the equitable Title IX grievance process.

If the investigation concludes that an employee or third party has violated this policy, the file will be referred to the Labor Relations Department to enforce disciplinary action or termination as outlined in the MPS Employee Handbook. Where criminal conduct is suspected, the district will immediately report the matter to the appropriate law enforcement authorities while continuing to fulfill its independent obligation to investigate under Title IX.