Hawaii is dedicated to providing a safe and equitable learning environment for all students, regardless of their religion. The Board of Education has a policy that prohibits any form of discrimination in any program, activity, or service of the public school system. This includes discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, or disability. The federal government has also taken steps to ensure that educational institutions are not discriminating against students based on their religion. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in schools and universities that receive federal funding.
This includes both sexual harassment and gender-based harassment. Sexual harassment is any unwanted verbal, non-verbal, or physical behavior of a sexual nature. Gender-based harassment is any unwanted behavior based on the person's real or perceived sex; this includes harassment based on gender identity and non-compliance with stereotypical notions of femininity and masculinity. Title IX also covers gender equity in school sports programs. Hawaii's laws are designed to protect students from discrimination based on their religion. Neutral laws can still have a substantial impact on religious practice, even if they are not intended to interfere with it.
Schools must ensure that they are following the law and providing an equitable learning environment for all students.
