FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2023
PHRC statement on Central Bucks School District policy
Harrisburg, PA- The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has been made aware of the recent Central Bucks School Board vote to prohibit teachers from advocating partisan, political or social policy issues within the classroom.
Additionally, the PHRC is aware of a complaint filed by the ACLU-PA in October against Central Bucks and an investigation by the U.S. Department of Education into allegations the district has discriminated against LGBTQ+ students. We are monitoring the implementation of this policy at this school district and similar situations at other districts across the commonwealth and will take action if we discover any instances of discrimination against a protected class.
The PHRC, the state's leading civil rights enforcement agency, promotes equal opportunity for all and enforces Pennsylvania's civil rights laws that protect people from unlawful discrimination. In December 2022, the Independent Regulatory Review Commission voted to approve a regulatory change that would formalize nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people by adopting an expanded definition of discrimination based on sex to include sexual orientation and gender identity.
The PHRC urges anyone who has experienced acts of discrimination or hate to file a complaint with the PHRC by calling 717-787-4410. Information and resources are also available at www.PHRC.pa.gov.
###
MEDIA CONTACT: Amanda Brothman, Director of Communications
ABrothmanj@pa.gov
717-787-9537