Methods of Administration

The U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights requires the Maine Department of Education to conduct career and technical education (CTE) site visits as part of its Vocational Education Methods of Administration (MOA) civil rights compliance of districts that receive federal funding. On-site reviews are based on the following U.S. DOE regulations:

• Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (34 CFR, Part 100). Prohibiting discrimination based on race, color and national origin.
• Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (34 CFR, Part 106). Prohibiting discrimination based on gender.
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (34 CFR, Part 104). Prohibiting discrimination based on disability.

The reviews are also based on the following U.S. Department of Justice regulations:

• Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and its implementing regulations (28 CFR, Part 35)
• Guidelines for Eliminating Discrimination and Denial of Services on the Basis of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex and Disability (34 CFR, Part 100, Appendix B)

In preparation of the MOA review, this guidance document provides information regarding the eight major areas addressed during the MOA review, as well as provides a sample Grievance Policy and accompanying documents, sample Admissions Policy and a reference list of Accessibility Standards for Students with Disabilities (ADA):

• MDOE Methods of Administration Guidance (PDF)

 

MOA Selected Subrecipient Targets

School Year	Targeted Term	Targeted School
2023-2024	Fall	Lewiston, Lewiston Regional Technical Center
	Spring	Waldo, Region 7, Waldo County Technical Center
		Norway, Region 11, Oxford Hills Technical Center
2024-2025	Spring	Bath, Bath Regional Career and Technical Center
	Fall	Southern Maine Community College

 

Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination

In compliance with federal guidelines, prior to the beginning of each school year, recipients of federal career and technical funds must advise students, parents, employees and the general public that all CTE opportunities will be offered without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, sex or disability. The announcement of this policy of nondiscrimination should be published after July 1 and before the beginning of each school year in a forum that will allow the general public to view it such as local newspapers, recipient publications and/or other media that reach the general public, program beneficiaries, minorities (including national origin minorities with limited English language skills), women and disabled persons. Included in the publication should be a summary of career and technical (vocational) education program offerings and admission criteria along with the name, address and telephone number of person(s) designated to coordinate Title IX and Section 504 compliance activity.

If your service area contains a community of national origin minority persons with limited English language skills, public notification must be disseminated to that community in its language and must state that recipients will take steps to assure that the lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in CTE programs.

Continuous Notice of Nondiscrimination

In addition to the Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination, districts and schools are required to publish a notice of nondiscrimination on a continuing basis and in a variety of locations. Some of the places would be in postings of notices, newspapers and magazines, applications for admission and employment, recruitment materials, announcements, bulletins, catalogs and websites.

Comprehensive On-Site Reviews

In an effort to sustain a process of continuous improvement in assuring equity for all students, comprehensive on-site reviews are conducted on selected CTEs and community colleges. The reviews focus on requirements in the following areas:

• Access and admissions
• Accessibility
• Administrative
• Comparable facilities
• Counseling and pre-career and technical programs
• Employment
• Housing and Dormitories (Post-secondary only)
• Recruitment
• Services for students with disabilities
• Site locations
• Student financial assistance
• Work study, cooperative education, job placement and apprentice training

Information is gathered through a combination of student and staff interviews, a comprehensive review of documents, the school/district websites and an accessibility walk-through of all schools with CTE programs.

A Letter of Findings report is issued to the district within 90 days and contains a brief explanation of the requirements, the observation of the school’s compliance with the requirements and a listing of the documentation/methodology utilized to determine compliance. The report contains findings that require action. Findings denote issues that require the district to develop a plan within 30 calendar days of receipt of the notice. The report may also contain recommendations for continuous improvement. Recommendations do not require action. Finally, any outstanding programs or services observed or discovered during the on-site review will be included in the report under commendations.