Broward County School District ensures that all district staff adhere to these policies and guidelines to establish the safety of all students, including youth from varying backgrounds, cultures and identities. Below are some relevant policies and laws that relate to diversity.

Members of the instructional staff of the public schools shall teach efficiently and faithfully, using the books and materials required that meet the highest standards of professionalism and historic accuracy for the history of Holocaust, the history of African Americans, the study of Hispanic Contributions to the United States and the study of Women’s Contributions to the United States. View Florida-Statue-1003.42.pdf.

Policy 1.5 Diversity: “The School Board of Broward County prohibits any policy or procedure, which results in discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, national origin, marital status, race, religion or sexual orientation. The School Board is committed to providing schools that promote acceptance, cultural diversity, equity, fair play, respect, and tolerance, and reinforce the positive tenets of a democratic society. The School Board recognizes that diversity is important in providing competent services in an inclusive setting. Students and staff with diverse backgrounds shall be provided the opportunity to develop greater skills and increased sensitivity in working with others and learning to function more effectively as members of a pluralistic society.

Anti-Bullying Policy 5.9: The School Board of Broward County Policy 5.9 prohibits the bullying, harassment, cyberstalking and cyberbullying of any student or employee on the basis of any one of the following protected categories: sex; race; color; religion; national origin; age; disability; marital status; socio-economic background; ancestry/ethnicity; linguistic preference; political beliefs; social/family background; gender; sexual orientation; gender identity and gender expression.

School Board of Broward County Non-Discrimination Policy 4001.1: The School Board of Broward County shall not discriminate against students, parents or guardians of students, employees, applicants, contractors, or individuals participating in School Board sponsored activities. The School Board is committed to the provision of equal access. This policy is established to provide an environment free from discrimination and harassment based upon age, race, color, disability, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, national origin, religion, sex or sexual orientation.

Florida Statute 1006.147: “The Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act” prohibits bullying or harassment of any student or employee of a public K-12 educational institution, whether at a school, on a school bus or via electronic device.

The Professional Code of Conduct for the Education Profession of Florida: The educator values the worth and dignity of every person and essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.

The Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (Equal Protection): The United States Constitution guarantees all people equal protection under the law. This means public school officials and employees may not single out a student for negative treatment based on prejudices against a certain culture or identity. The Constitution’s equality also means that public school officials may not turn a blind eye to anti-LGBTQ harassment or treat it less seriously than other forms of harassment.

Title IX Title IX of the Education Amendment Acts of 1972: Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities that received federal financial assistance. Although Title IX does not expressly apply to discrimination based on sexual orientation, it does prohibit gender-based harassment such as, harassment on the basis of a student’s failure to conform to stereotyped notions of masculinity and femininity.