Hawaiʻi State Department of Education

Ka ʻOihana Hoʻonaʻauao o ke Aupuni Hawaiʻi

Civil Rights Compliance Branch

Notice of Non-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment

Civil Rights Compliance Branch (CRCB)

The Civil Rights Compliance Branch is committed to the Department’s overall compliance with federal, state departmental administrative rules and policies, which strictly prohibit any form of discrimination, including harassment and/or retaliation based upon a protected class, as it relates to students, employees and members of the public who access our services, programs and activities. 

Protected classes include: race; sex, including gender identity and gender expression; age; religion; color; ancestry; sexual orientation; citizenship; national origin; military/veteran status; disability; marital/civil union status; arrest and court record; genetic information; credit history; domestic or sexual violence victim status. The CRCB oversees the Department’s compliance with federal laws that include, but are not limited to: 

  • Title IX of the Educational Amendment of 1972, also known as the Patsy T. Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act; 
  • Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and as amended in 1991; 
  • Equal Educational Opportunity Act of 1974; 
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, and as amended in 2008; and 
  • The Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

The CRCB also coordinates and responds on behalf of the Department to complaints that have been filed by individual employees and/or parents with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); the Hawaiʻi Civil Rights Commission (HCRC); and the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR). 

Close up photo of kalo leaves

When required, the CRCB follows up with corrective action plans and compliance requirements with OCR, EEOC, HCRC, the U.S. Department of Justice; the Office of the State Director for Career and Technical Education; and coordinates data requests and other compliance requirements with the state Office of Language Access​.

The CRCB also conducts internal investigations of complaints arising from alleged protected class discrimination, harassment or bullying from employees, students or parents of our public schools statewide, in matters pertaining to Board of Education Policies 305-10 and 900-1. (See Important policies and forms below.)

The CRCB coordinates requests for reasonable accommodations under the superintendent’s directive for employees statewide. ​

The CRCB conducts Chapter 19​ Administrative Appeal Hearings and related activities as the superintendent’s designee.

Important Policies and Forms

Equal Educational Opportunity Brochure

Student Complaint Against Employee

Translated Text

Employee and Applicant Non-Discrimination Policy

Employee and Applicant Non-Discrimination Policy Brochure (PDF)

Hawai‘i Administrative Rules, Title 8-Chapter 89

Civil rights policy and complaint procedure for student(s) complaints against adult(s).

Reasonable Accommodations​

Please complete the Form RA-1 and Form RA-3 for medical accommodation requests. For state-level employees, requests may be submitted to the CRCB ADA specialist. For all other employees, requests may be submitted to the applicable CRCB specialist for the complex area.

Religious Accommodation Request

For state and district-level employees, Religious Accommodation Request (PDF) Forms may be submitted to the CRCB Title VII specialist. For all other employees, requests may be submitted to the applicable CRCB Specialist for the complex area.

Examples of Non-Discrimination Laws

TITLE IX

Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in schools and colleges receiving federal funding. Sex-based discrimination includes both sexual harassment and gender-based harassment. Sexual harassment is unwanted verbal, non-verbal, or physical conduct of a sexual nature. Gender-based harassment is unwelcome conduct based on the individual’s actual or perceived sex, and includes harassment based on gender identity and non-conformity with stereotypical notions of femininity and masculinity. Title IX also covers gender equity in school athletic programs.

JAMES CAMPBELL HIGH SCHOOL SETTLEMENT

In accordance with the settlement agreement reached in A.B. et al v. Hawaiʻi State Department of Education, et al, the interim and annual reports of the independent evaluator will be made publicly available.

  • The first interim report details efforts taken by the independent evaluator from the date of the settlement agreement, on or about Oct. 9, 2023, until the date of the report, Jan. 26, 2024.
  • The second interim report details efforts taken from the date of the settlement agreement until the date of the report, Feb. 28, 2025.

Interim Grievance Procedures for Sexual Harassment

Training Materials

Guidance on Supports for Transgender Students

TITLE VI

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color or national origin in programs or activities in federal funding.

ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a comprehensive civil rights law that prohibits discrimination and guarantees that people with disabilities have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else. To be covered by the ADA, one must have a disability, which is defined as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities, a person who has a history or record of such an impairment, or a person who is perceived by others as having such an impairment.

  • Title I: Title I of the ADA pertains to the rights of individuals with disabilities in employment settings. Under Title I, an employer cannot discriminate against qualified applicants and employees on the basis of disability.
  • Title II: Title II of the ADA prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability by public entities. Under Title II, qualified individuals with disabilities cannot be discriminated against on the basis of their disability in services, programs and activities that are provided by public entities.​

Section 504

Section 504 is a civil rights law that ensures that a student with a disability has equal access to an education. It entitles students to a free and appropriate public education by providing a reasonable accommodation or modification for eligible students who are found to be “qualified disabled persons” under Section 504.

CRCB Staff

State Support Team

Director
Beth Schimmelfennig

Compliance Administrator
Rhonda Wong

Title IX Specialist
Nicole Isa-Ijima

Title IX – Athletics Specialist
Dana Takahara-Dias

Title VII Specialist
Blue Kaanehe

Title VI Specialist
Anna Tsang

Civil Rights Compliance Specialist
Alphonso Braggs

ADA/504 Specialist
Krysti Sukita

Secretary
Vacant

Contact

808-784-6325
[email protected]

Regional Support Team

Aiea-Moanalua-Radford
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Christina Simpson
808-797-7685
[email protected]

Baldwin-Kekaulike-Kūlanihāko‘i-Maui
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Maria Letasz
808-600-9417
[email protected]

Campbell-Kapolei
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Nara Sitachitta
808-829-7168
[email protected]

Castle-Kahuku
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

James Nichols
808-829-6981
[email protected]

Farrington-Kaiser-Kalani
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Alexis Mukaida
808-829-7182
[email protected]

Hāna-Lahainaluna-Lāna‘i-Molokai
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Courtney Dennis
808-379-6208
[email protected]

Hilo-Waiākea
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Dee Sugihara
808-600-9576
[email protected]

Honoka‘a-Kealakehe-Kohala-Konawaena
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Chris Jungers
808-600-9613
[email protected]

Ka‘ū-Kea‘au-Pāhoa
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Moana Hokoana
808-373-6750
[email protected]

Kaimukī-McKinley-Roosevelt
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Marie Neilson
808-892-6887
[email protected]

Kailua-Kalāheo
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Flor Williams
808-597-6566
[email protected]

Kapa‘a-Kaua‘i-Waimea
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

David Dooley
808-379-5299
[email protected]

Leilehua-Mililani-Waialua
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Michael Murakami
808-600-9299
[email protected]

Nānākuli-Wai‘anae
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Lance Larsen
808-600-9481
[email protected]

Pearl City-Waipahu
Complex Area Compliance Specialist

Shari Dela Cuadra
808-629-9114
[email protected]