Treated differently for your language
Your friend Rosa, who is learning English, gets laughed at when she reads aloud, and this week a teacher moved her to "sit with the other Spanish speakers" away from the main group and stopped calling on her entirely. Rosa says she just wants to disappear. You suspect this crosses a line, but you're not sure which one.
What could you do?
Pick a response to see how it usually plays out.
The general principles
- Title VI bans discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, which courts and OCR read to include language-based mistreatment.
- Schools must provide English learners with language services so they can access their education.
- Once a school knows about serious harassment, responding is a legal duty, not a favor.
Safer next steps
- Start a dated log of incidents with exact words and witnesses.
- Report to a counselor or administrator in writing; keep a copy.
- Involve Rosa's family; interpreters must be provided for school meetings if needed.
- If the school doesn't act, a free complaint can be filed with the Office for Civil Rights.
Title VI applies to schools receiving federal funds, which covers nearly all public schools. State laws may add further protections.
A counselor, a trusted teacher, or Rosa's family should know as soon as possible. Civil rights organizations and legal aid groups help families with exactly these complaints, free.
Support you can reach
- U.S. Dept. of Education, Office for Civil Rights (opens in a new tab)
Takes free complaints about discrimination in schools based on race, national origin, sex, or disability.
- MALDEF (opens in a new tab)
Latino civil rights organization litigating and advocating on education, immigration, and employment.
- LawHelp.org (opens in a new tab)
Directory that finds free legal aid programs in your state for housing, family, school, work, and more.
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