Department of Civil Rights: City of Madison, Wisconsin

WHAT IS TITLE VI?

Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act says, ”No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C.§2000d

What does Title VI do?

Prohibits entities from denying an individual any service, financial aid, or other benefit because of race, color or national origin
Prohibits entities from providing a different service or benefit, or providing these in a different manner from those provided to others under the program.
Prohibits segregation or separate treatment in any manner related to receiving program services or benefits.
Prohibits entities from requiring different standards or conditions as prerequisites for serving individuals.
Encourages the participation of minorities as members of planning or advisory bodies for programs receiving federal funds.
Prohibits discriminatory activity in a facility built in whole or part with Federal funds.
Requires information and services to be provided in languages other than English when significant numbers of beneficiaries are of limited English speaking ability.
Requires entities to notify the respective population about applicable programs.
Prohibits locating facilities in any way that would limit or impede access to a Federally funded service or benefit.
Requires assurance of nondiscrimination in purchasing of services.

What “Programs or Activities” are covered by Title VI?

To ensure the broad, institution wide application of Title VI and other civil rights statutes Congress passed The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. This act clarifies the definition of “programs and activities” covered by the nondiscrimination provisions of civil rights statutes. The revised definition states that discrimination is prohibited throughout an entire agency or institution, if any part of that agency or institution receives Federal financial assistance. Examples: (1)(A) a department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality of a State or local government; or (B) the entity of such State or local government that distributes such assistance and each such department or agency (and each other state or local government entity) to which the assistance is extended, in the case of assistance to a state or local government;

(2)(A) a college, university, or other postsecondary institution, or a public system of education; or system of vocational education, or other school system.

Who must comply?

State and Local Government: Agency distributing federal assistance or entity distributing federal assistance to the state or local government entity.
Higher education: college, university, or other post-secondary institution
Local education agency or system of vocational education, or other school system
An entire corporation, partnership, or other private organization, or an entire sole proprietorship
The entire plant or private corporation or other organization which is a geographically separate facility to which federal financial assistance is extended.