<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".03" citation="COMAR 13A.01.07.03" title_num="13A" subtitle_num="01" chapter_num="07" heading="Nondiscrimination in Education.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Educational entities have a responsibility to protect every student’s right to learn in an environment free from unlawful discrimination.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Entities identified in Regulation .01B of this chapter may not:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Discriminate against a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual's race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Discipline, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Entities identified in Regulation .01B(1) of this chapter shall adopt and maintain a written antidiscrimination policy that prohibits unlawful discrimination as described in §B of this regulation.</text>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Entities identified in Regulation .01B of this chapter shall include the following antidiscrimination statement in their student handbook: “It is the policy of the State of Maryland that all public and publicly funded schools and school programs operate in compliance with:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964; and</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Title 26, Subtitle 7 of the Education Article of the Maryland Code, which states that public and publicly funded schools and programs may not:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>Discriminate against a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student on the basis of race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>Refuse enrollment of a prospective student, expel a current student, or withhold privileges from a current student, a prospective student, or the parent or guardian of a current or prospective student because of an individual's race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Discipline, invoke a penalty against, or take any other retaliatory action against a student or parent or guardian of a student who files a complaint alleging that the program or school discriminated against the student, regardless of the outcome of the complaint.”</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>