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SamuelMoody
English2010
ResearchEssay4/28/15
SimoneSuddreth
Rules,Rights,andRegulations:ThePrivateSchoolingSystem
Everytenpointnineminutessomeonebetweentheagesoffifteentotwentyfiveyearsof
agecommitssuicide(CDC).Someofthepeoplewhofallwithinthisagerangemightenrolledin
publicandprivateschools.Withinthosestudents,someofthemmightidentifyasLesbian,Gay,
Bisexual,TransgenderorQueer(LGBTQ).Althoughtherearenofederallawsrelatingto
bullying.However,therearefortyninestatesthathaveanantibullyingpieceoflegislationthat
Coversvariousformsofharassment.Therearenumerousformsofharassment,which,
unfortunately,canleadstudentsdownadestructivepathofdepressionandsuicidalthoughts.
LGBTQstudentsareatanincreasedrisktoattemptsuicideatsomepointduringgradessevento
twelfth(CDC).
Privateandpublicschoolseachhaveseparaterulesandregulationsthatspecificallyrelate
toharassmentandsexualidentitydiscrimination.Basedonwherethelocationoftheschooland
themoralsthatarepresentedbythatcityorschoolcancreateadifficultlivingsituationforthose
whoidentifyasLGBTQ.PrivateschoolsshouldbebylawrequiredtocomplywiththeUnited
StatesDepartmentofEducation'srulesandregulationsrelatingtoTitleIVandTitleIXthe
discriminationofstudentsandteachers.
TheUnitedStatesDepartmentofEducation(USDE)TitleIXandTitleVI,prohibits
discriminationonthebasisofrace,color,sex,andnationalorigin.TheUSDEstatesthatany


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Federallyfundedprivateorpublicschoolmustcomplywiththediscriminationlaw(TheUnited
StatesDepartmentofEducation).PrivateandpublicschoolsmustcomplywithTitleIXifthey
arereceivingfundingfromthefederalgovernment.Ontheotherhand,privateschoolsthatare
notreceivinganyfederalresourcesareentitledtotheirsetofrulesandregulations.Forexample,
the"Academy/HomePartneringAgreement"AtProvidenceChristianinLilburn,Georgia."No
'immoralact'or'identifyingstatements'concerningfornication,adultery,homosexuality,
lesbianism,bisexualityorpornographywillbetolerated.Suchbehaviorwillconstitutegrounds
forexpulsion"(Morris).
AustinattendsaprivateChristianschoollocatedinTexas.Inhisfreetimeawayfrom
school,heenjoysmakingYoutubevideosandlettingotherpeoplewhoidentifyasLGBTQknow
thattheyarenotalone.UponthemakingofhisYoutube,Facebook,andothersocialmedia
pages,hisprincipalwasmadeawareofthesituationandaskedhimtocometohisoffice.When
enteringtheoffice,hewastoldthathisparentshadbeeninformed,ameetingwasscheduledfor
thenextmorning.Hismotherarrivedthenextday.Theprincipalinformedthemthatheneeded
toeitherremoveallthesocialmediaandessentiallygobackintotheclosetfortheremainderof
hishighschoolcareerortoleavetheschool.Ifhetooktheoptiontostay,theprincipalmadeit
veryclearthathewouldexpelhimifanysocialmediasitessurfacedagain(Wallis).Thereason
theschoolwaslegallyallowedtodothisisbecauseanagreementwassigneduponenrollment.
AnotherstudentnamedTristan,attendedaprivateChristianschool.Tristanandthe
schoolwishedtogounnamedforlegalpurposesTristanreceivedaFacebookmessagethat
readHey,I'mprettysureyou'regay.Ijustwantedtoletyouknowthere'ssomeofusatthis
school.Ifyoueverwanttotalk,letmeknow.(Morris).Hedidnotreplytothemessageatfirst,


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becauseofthefearthatitmightbeatrickorsomeoneathisschoolwhowasinformedofhis
sexualidentity,tryingtoexposehim.Hebegantoreceivemoremessagesfromseveraldifferent
peoplewhoattendedtheschool.Allofthesepeoplehadonethingincommon,theyallidentified
asLGBTQ.Thestudentsrequestedtosetupagroupmeetingsothattheycouldallgettoknow
eachother.Theymetatarestaurantthatwasapproximatelytwentyminutesawaysothatno
authorities,parents,andorclassmatesoftheschoolwouldbemadeawareoftheiridentity.
IncomparisontoTristan,SeveralstudentsattendedaprivateschoolinGeorgiavery
similartoProvidenceChristianAcademy.Thestudentsandparentsarerequiredtosignawaiver
uponenrollingintheschool.Oneexampleofawaivertheparentsandstudentmustsignbefore
enrollmentisthe"Academy/HomePartneringAgreement"atProvidenceChristianinLilburn,
Georgia.AschoolwithreligiousaffiliationsverysimilartothoseattheschoolTristanattends.
"No'immoralact'or'identifyingstatements'concerningfornication,adultery,homosexuality,
lesbianism,bisexualityorpornographywillbetolerated,"warnstheCherokeeChristianSchools
inWoodstock,Georgia."Suchbehaviorwillconstitutegroundsforexpulsion"(Morris).
CherokeeandProvidenceChristianAcademybothsharesimilarparentingagreements.Within
theProvidenceChristianAcademyHandbook,thereisasectiontitledNonDiscriminatory
Policywhichreads:
ProvidenceChristianAcademy,Inc.admitsstudentsofanyrace,color,national
andethnicorigintoalltherights,privileges,programs,andactivitiesgenerally
affordedormadeavailabletostudentsattheschool.Itdoesnotdiscriminateon
thebasisofrace,color,nationalorethnicorigininadministrationofits


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educationalpolicies,admissionspolicies,andathleticorother
schooladministeredprograms(Vought18).
Theschoolcompletelyleavesoutsexualityasarightanddoesnotevenrecognizeitascultural
group.Furthermore,whilelookingattheirwebsiteandstudenthandbook,theymentionedthat
theyarefederallyfundedthroughSB10(SenateBill10).SB10providesthefundingand
resourcesforstudentswhohaveahandicap,providingthemwithanassistanttoaccompanythem
withdifficultiesthattheymightexperiencewithintheclassroomandsurroundingareasonthe
campus.
TheUnitedStateDepartmentofEducationstates,anyschoolreceivingfundsfromthe
governmentmaynotdiscriminatebaseduponsexual,culturalorracialbackground.Itisagainst
federalregulationstobereceivingfundingfromSB10andatthesametimediscriminating
againstLGBTQstudents.Thisschoolis.ThislawwasputintoeffectonApril4th,2011.The
OfficeforCivilRights(OCR)issuedaDearColleagueLetter(DCL)forstudentonstudent
sexualharassmentandsexualviolence.
TheDCLexplainstheschool'sresponsibilitytorespondpromptlytoanyreportsofsexual
harassmentorgenderdiscrimination,aswellassexualviolence.Whenastudentmakesaformal
complainttoanadvisororprincipal,theymusttakethecomplaintseriouslyandrespond
promptly,makingsurethesituationissolved.Whereasattendingaprivateschoolandmakinga
formalcomplaintmightgoalittledifferently,basedoniftheschoolisorisnotreceivingfederal
funding.Constructedupontheschoolsstatusonafederallevel,iftheyarereceivingfundingthey
mustcomplywiththeDCL.Theadministrationmustfollowanyleadsthatthestudentsorfaculty
provideforthem,makingsurethatthesituationhasbeenrespectfullysolved.


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DowlingCatholicHighSchoolisaprivateschoollocatedinDesMoines,IowaThe
schoolsprincipalofferedamaleparttimesubstituteafulltimejobasateacher.Uponthe
observationofhisFacebookpage,theprincipallearnedthattheteacherwasengagedtoaman.
Immediatelyafterlearningthattheteacherwasengaged,theschoolretractedthejoboffer.When
thestudentslearnedthatafellowteacherwasbeingdiscriminatedagainstbasedonhissexual
identity,theydecidedtoformaschoolwidewalkout,thatwasinthefavoroftheteacher
(Badash).ThestudentsatthisschoolareCatholicandseemtobeabletofindamiddleground
thatkindlyincorporatetheLGBTQcommunityandthestrictpoliciesoftheCatholicchurch.If
thestudentshavealreadylearnedtoacceptoneanother,thenwhyhaven'ttheschoolofficialsand
churchleadersdonethesame?
Privateschoolsthatwishtonotreceivefederalfundinggetothervariousdonationsfrom
organizations.TheCatholicTuitionOrganization(CTO),ProjectHope/BradyTrust(PHBT),as
wellastheStudentScholarshipOrganization(SSO)all,donatetoprivateschools.These
religious,financialfundingsourcesclaimtoprovidestudentsequalopportunitiestovarious
resourcesofferedthroughprivateschoolsacrosstheUnitedStates.Whenmakingadonationto
oneoftheorganizations,thepersondonatingreceivesarelativelylargetaxbreakdependingon
howmuchthedonationis.TheSSOreceivesdonationsandfundsfromthegeneralpublic,then
redirectedtoprivatescholarshiporganizations(Morris).Thisishowsomeoftheprivateschools
arelegallygettingawaywiththestrictantigaylegislationproducedbytheschool.
TheSSOisfunnelingthepublicallycollecteddonationsandtransferringthemtoaprivate
donationsaccount.Afterthetransfer,thefundsarenotconsideredapublicfundanymore.In
return,thisallowsthechurchandstatefundingtobekeptseparate,makingitcompletelylegalto


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funnelthemoneyintovariousprivateaccounts(Morris).Thiscreatesasystemthatcannotbe
lookedintobythefederalgovernment.Itisnowconsideredfelonytodoso,eversinceHouse
Bill1133passedinGeorgia(HB1133).ThisbillonlyappliestothestateofGeorgia.HB1133
prohibitsthefederalgovernmentfromlookingintotheprivatedonationsorscholarshipsthat
studentswereprovidedfromthevariousorganizationsanddonors.IncomparisontoHB1133,
Rep.SimoneBell(DAtlanta)thenation'sfirstopenlygayAfricanAmericanlesbian,
cosponsoredHouseBill456AntiDiscriminationAct(HB456).Thisbillwouldessentially
disqualifyschoolsinGeorgiawithantigaypoliciesfromparticipatinginthepublictaxcredit
scholarshipprogram(Hansell)(Bell)AssemblyBill537(AB537).
Schoolsthatarenotbeingfederallyfundedaregrantingstudentswithascholarship
providedbytheCTO,PHBTortheSSO.TheCTO,PHBT,andtheSSOallrequirean
applicationthatmustbefilledoutandsubmittedforreview.Theapplicationassessesthestudent
aswellasthefamily,togainabetterunderstandingofwhotheapplicantis.Insomesituations
questionspresentedonanapplicationareIsthestudentChristian?orWasthestudent
baptizedChristian?Astudentthatrespondswithayestoeitherofthosequestions,usually
hasabetterchanceofgettingintotheschool.Comparedtoastudentwhoisnotofreligious
affiliations,whomaynotwanttoparticipateinthepublicschoolingsystembecauseofpersonal
factors.
TheCaliforniaStudentandSafetyPreventionActof2000changedCalifornia'seducation
codebyaddingactualorperceivedsexualorientationtotheexistingnondiscriminationpolicy.
ThebillalsoincorporatedtheharassmentofLGBTQstudents.InadditiontoAB537,theEqual
AccessActalsoprovidesstudentswiththelegalprotectionthattheyneedonafederallevel,


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whenattendingapublicsecondaryschool("Frequently).Whenfirstfilingacomplainttoa
school,thestudentmustmakeaverbalcomplainttoeitheracounselororaschooladministrator.
Beforecomplaining,makesurethatasthestudenthavereadtheguidelinesthatareinthestudent
handbookbecauseeveryschool'sguidelinesaredifferent.Thestepsshouldbethesameasfiling
asexualharassmentcomplaint.Ifthestudentfeelsasiftheadministrationhasnotmetthedistrict
standards.Thestudentcanmakeaformalwrittencomplainttothesuperintendentthatrepresents
thedistrictthattheschoolisin("AB537FactSheet").
Publicandprivateschoolseachhavenumeroussetsofrulesandregulation.Forprivate
schools,thoseregulationsarebasedonwhethertheschoolisreceivingfederalfundingornot,
contributestowherethefinancialassistancecomesfrom,forthosestudentswhomeetavery
specificcriteria.Themoneycomesfromthepublicandisaconsideredapublicfunduntilthe
moneyistransferredintotheprivateschoolsaccountsforaveryunusuallysophisticatedsystem
oftransfersandwithdrawals.
Daybyday,weekbyweek,monthbymonth,studentslocallyandacrossthecountryare
beingridiculedbasedontheirsexualidentityorperceivedsexualidentityalongwithvarious
otherformsofharassment.Therearetimeswheretheschoolsareunawarethattheharassmentis
happening,ontheotherhandsometimestheschoolistheonecausingtheharassment.From
studentsandteachers,thathavebeensegregatedjustbasedonthesolefactoroftheirsexualityis
completelyunethicalandunjustifiable.Fromthevariousformsofdiscriminationandbiasesthat
theprivateeducationsystempresents,canleadLGBTQstudentsdownapathofemotional
instabilitywhereintheendtheymightendtheirlife.


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WorksCited
"AB537FactSheet."GSANetwork.Web.27Apr.2015.
Badash,David."HundredsOfStudentsWalkOutToProtestCatholicSchoolRefusalToHire
GayTeacher."
TheNewCivilRightsMovement
.9Apr.2015.Web.26Apr.2015.
Bell,Simone,MaryMargaretOliver,StacyAbrams,CarolynHugley,VirgilFludd,andBilly
Mitchell."HB45620132014RegularSession."
HB45620132014RegularSession
.
HigherEducation,26Feb.2013.Web.25Apr.2015.
"FactsandFigures."
AmericanFoundationforSuicidePrevention
.CDC.
Web.7Apr.2015.
"FactSheetonPrivateSchools,DiscriminationandtheLaw."AmericanCivilLibertiesUnionof
Maryland.Web.26Apr.2015.
"FinancialAssistance.":CatholicSchools.DioceseofDesMoines.Web.15Apr.2015.
"FrequentlyAskedQuestionsAbouttheEqualAccessAct."AmericanCivilLiberties
UnionofWashingtonFoundation.Web.26Apr.2015.
Hansell,Sally."AntiGayPrivateSchoolsReapGeorgia'sTaxDollars."
TheHuffingtonPost
.
TheHuffingtonPost,27Mar.2013.Web.25Apr.2015.
"HB113320072008RegularSession."HB113320072008RegularSession.1Jan.2007.Web.
19Apr.2015.
Handbook.ProvidenceChristianAcademy,2014.73.Print.
Morris,Alex."TheHiddenWarAgainstGayTeens."RollingStone.RollingStone,10Oct
2013.Web.15Feb.2015.
"QuestionsandAnswersonTitleIXandSexualViolence."TheUnitedStatesDepartmentof


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Education.Web.9Feb.2015.
Vought,Jim."NondiscriminatoryPolicy."ProvidenceChristianAcademyParent/Student
Wallis,Austin."BeTheChange:gayRights."YouTube.YouTube,1Feb.2015.Web.13Mar.
2015.