A Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA) is a legally binding agreement between the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and an educational institution that has been found to be in non-compliance with federal civil rights laws. The VRA outlines the steps that the educational institution must take to remedy the non-compliance issue and prevent similar issues from occurring in the future.
OCR is responsible for enforcing federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, and age by educational institutions that receive federal funding. OCR investigates complaints of discrimination in educational institutions and investigates compliance reviews, in which OCR reviews an educational institution`s policies and practices to determine if it is in compliance with federal civil rights laws.
If OCR finds that an educational institution is in non-compliance with federal civil rights laws, it may enter into a VRA with the institution. The VRA outlines the specific steps that the educational institution must take to remedy the non-compliance issue and prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. The VRA may include, among other things, the following:
– A requirement to revise policies and procedures to comply with federal civil rights laws
– A requirement to provide training to staff on federal civil rights laws
– A requirement to provide remedies to individuals who were harmed by the non-compliance issue
– A requirement to submit periodic reports to OCR detailing the educational institution`s progress in implementing the VRA
Entering into a VRA is a desirable outcome for an educational institution that has been found to be in non-compliance with federal civil rights laws because it is a proactive step towards remedying the issue and avoiding potential litigation.
In summary, a Voluntary Resolution Agreement (VRA) is a legally binding agreement between the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and an educational institution that has been found to be in non-compliance with federal civil rights laws. If OCR finds that an educational institution is in non-compliance with federal civil rights laws, it may enter into a VRA with the institution that outlines the specific steps that the educational institution must take to remedy the non-compliance issue and prevent similar issues from occurring in the future. Entering into a VRA is a desirable outcome for an educational institution because it is a proactive step towards remedying the issue and avoiding potential litigation.