AC - Non-Discrimination Including Harassment and Retaliation

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Policy AC

Adopted: November 15, 2001
Amended: October 30, 2025

The Hopkinton School Committee and Hopkinton Public Schools (HPS) are committed to maintaining an education and work environment for all school community members that is free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment and retaliation. The members of the school community include the School Committee, employees, administration, faculty, staff, students, volunteers in the schools, and parties contracted to perform work for the Hopkinton Public Schools.

The Hopkinton Public Schools does not exclude from participation, deny the benefits of HPS from or otherwise discriminate against, individuals on the basis of race*, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex stereotypes, sex characteristics, religion, disability, age, genetic information, active military/veteran status, marital status, familial status, pregnancy, or pregnancy-related condition, homelessness, ancestry, ethnic background, national origin, or any other category protected by state or federal law in the administration of its educational and employment policies, or in its programs and activities.  It is the policy of HPS to comply with both state and federal laws.

This commitment to the community is affirmed by the following statements.  The Hopkinton School Committee commits to:

1. Promoting the rights and responsibilities of all individuals as set forth in the State and Federal Constitutions, pertinent legislation, and applicable judicial interpretations.
2. Encouraging positive experiences in human values for children, youth and adults, all of whom have differing personal and family characteristics and who come from various socioeconomic, racial and ethnic groups.
3. Working toward a more integrated society and enlisting the support of individuals as well as groups and agencies, both private and governmental, in such an effort.
4. Using all appropriate communication and action techniques to air and address the grievances of individuals and groups.
5. Carefully consider, in all the decisions made within the school district, the potential benefits or adverse consequences that those decisions might have on the human relations.
6. Initiating a process of reviewing policies and practices of the school district in order to achieve to the greatest extent possible the objectives of this statement.

The Hopkinton Public Schools requires all members of the school community to conduct themselves in accordance with this policy.

It shall be a violation of this policy for any member of the school community to engage in any form of discrimination, including harassment and retaliation, or to violate any other civil right of any member of the school community. We recognize that discrimination can take a range of forms and can be targeted or unintentional; however, discrimination in any form, including harassment and retaliation, will not be tolerated.

It shall also be a violation of this policy for any school community member to subject any other member of the school community to any form of retaliation, including, but not limited to, coercion, intimidation, interference, punishment, discrimination, or harassment, for reporting or filing a complaint of discrimination, cooperating in an investigation, aiding or encouraging another member of the school community to report such conduct or file a complaint, or opposing any act or practice reasonably believed to be prohibited by this policy.

Allegations of discrimination, harassment, and related retaliation (except for Title IX) will be addressed through the District’s School Committee Policy AC-R, Civil Rights Grievance Procedure.

*race to include traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture, hair type, hair length, and protective hairstyles.

First Reading: October 9, 2025

Second Reading: October 30, 2025

Legal References:

Legal References:

 Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 Executive Order 11246, as amended by E.O. 11375

Equal Pay Act, as amended by the Education Amendments of 1972 Title IX, Education Amendments of 1972

Rehabilitation Act of 1973

M.G.L. 71B:1 et seq. (Chapter 766 of the Acts of 1972)

Acts of 2022, Chapter 117 - https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2022/Chapter117

SOURCE:  MASC August 2022 as amended January 2025

Cross References:

Policy Cross Reference:
JICFB Bullying Prevention & Intervention

ACAB Sexual Harassment/Title IX 

ACE, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability

AC-R, Civil Rights Grievance Procedure 

IJ, Instructional Materials

Related Resources:

Procedure Reference:

Grievance Procedure For Complaints Alleging Violation
Of Section 504 Of The Rehabilitation Of 1973 as defined by HPS Student Handbook and HPS Faculty Handbook