The District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) is committed to ensuring every student feels loved, challenged, and prepared to positively influence society and thrive in life by providing rigorous and inclusive learning environments for all students. To meet this commitment, DCPS is focused on creating an environment in which we eliminate opportunity gaps, interrupt institutional bias, and remove barriers to academic and social success, particularly for students of color. To promote an equitable environment free of discrimination, DCPS provides the most support where the greatest disparities have persisted.

Upholding DCPS’ mission to provide a nurturing, inclusive, and affirming environment for all students, the Comprehensive Alternative Resolution and Equity (CARE) team provides a mechanism for the reporting of improper and/or discriminatory treatment by a DCPS employee, volunteer, contractor or student.

This policy conveys how grievances related to allegations of improper and/or discriminatory treatment; instances in which the rights of students, or any individual student, are being denied or abridged; or instances in which any student or group of students is being subjected to an arbitrary or unreasonable regulation, procedure, or standard of conduct; can be made and the manner in which DCPS will respond.

This policy applies to all DCPS students and the general public. This policy rescinds and supersedes all previous policy, memoranda, and guidance promulgated by DCPS on this subject matter.