In general, the Knox County Board of Education/Knox County Schools prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment, and promotes equal opportunities with regard to programs and activities regardless of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, or disabilities.^1-7

The Board of Education fully supports the rights of all studentsto be free from discrimination as discussed herein, and will seek to investigate and, as applicable, remedy any such discrimination within the Knox County Schools.

Students may submit complaints when they believe they have been discriminated against on any basis. Students may report anonymously, and anonymous reports will be investigated with the same level of urgency as all other reports.

COORDINATOR

The Director of Schools or the Director’s designated representative (Coordinator, Ombudsman) shall be responsible for coordinating the system's efforts to comply with non-discrimination laws.

The Ombudsman/person may be contacted in person at the Knox County Schools administrative offices at 400 W. Summit Hill Drive SW, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 or by telephone at 865-594-1192. Inquiries concerning Title IX may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator or to the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights. The Title IX Coordinator may be contacted in person at the Knox County Schools administrative offices at 400 W. Summit Hill Drive SW, Knoxville, Tennessee 37902 or by telephone at 865-594-1918. Please telephone the offices before appearing in person.

PROCEDURES

All complaints may be presented to a student’s teacher, and/or the building level administrator (Principal), and/or directly to the Ombudsman/person. If satisfactory resolution of the problem cannot be reached after ample opportunity for consideration of the matter, the complainant may discuss the matter with the Director of Schools. After review of the case, the Director of Schools shall take such action as the Director deems appropriate and shall notify all parties concerned of the decision. The complainant may appeal the Director’s decision to the Board. The Board will hear only complaints which have been carried through the proper procedure from the point of origin.

Legal References:

1. T.C.A. § 49-5-1003(b)(10).
2. 42 U.S.C. § 12101. 
3. Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
4. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
5. Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
6. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
7. First Amendment of the United State Constitution. 
    

Approved as to Legal Form 
By the Knox County Law Director 12/4/2024
/Gary T. Dupler/Deputy Law Director