504: OCR Complaint Procedures (Formal)
OCR Complaint Procedures (Formal)
The complainant may file a complaint with the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at any time before, during, or after the local grievance procedures. The contact information for the regional office is as follows:
Office for Civil Rights, Region VIII
Cesar E. Chavez Memorial Building
1244 Speer Boulevard, Suite 310
Denver, Colorado 80204-3582
Telephone: 303-844-5695
FAX: 303-844-4303
Denver OCR Email Address [email protected]
Denver OCR Website https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html?src=rt
Office for Civil Rights Complaint Process
An individual or an organization may file a complaint with the regional Office for Civil Rights (OCR). An OCR complaint must be filed, in writing, within 180 days after the alleged discriminatory act or from the time the person becomes aware of the alleged discriminatory act. In certain cases, the OCR will consider complaints where more than 180 days have elapsed.
Anyone wishing to file a formal complaint with the OCR should submit, in writing, the following information in a letter or on the Discrimination Complaint Form, available from the OCR regional offices:
- Name, address, and phone (a daytime telephone number is helpful)
- A general description of the person(s) or class of persons injured by the alleged discriminatory act(s) (names of the injured person(s) are not required)
- The name and location of the agency that committed the alleged discriminatory act(s), as well as the name of the “injured” person
- A description of the alleged discriminatory act(s) in sufficient detail to enable the OCR to understand what occurred, when it occurred, and the basis for the alleged discrimination (race, sex, color, national origin, age, or disability)
- The form can be found online https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/howto.html?src=rt
REMEMBER! A school or individual may not retaliate against or harass any person who has made a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in any manner in an investigation.