New Jersey officials remind schools of protections against discrimination, bias-based harassment
NEW JERSEY — New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and Division on Civil Rights Director Yolanda N. Melville are reminding K-12 schools, colleges and universities of their obligations to protect students from discrimination and bias-based harassment as the new school year gets underway.
In a joint statement, Davenport and Melville said the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination protects students from discrimination or harassment based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression and other protected characteristics.
“As New Jersey students return to classrooms for the new school year, we remind educators, administrators, families, and school communities of the protections guaranteed under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (LAD). The LAD safeguards all students from discrimination or harassment based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, and other protected characteristics. K–12 schools, colleges, and universities must proactively prevent and promptly address harassment or bias-based conduct related to any protected characteristic.
“Under the LAD, schools are required to take swift and effective action when peer-to-peer harassment becomes severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating or hostile learning environment. Institutions that know, or should know, of such harassment and fail to take reasonable steps to stop it and prevent recurrence may violate the law. New Jersey’s Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act also requires schools to respond promptly to bias-based harassment and bias incidents.”
The officials encouraged educational institutions to review DCR guidance on addressing bias in K-12 schools and on college campuses. DCR also offers training for administrators, educators and staff on anti-bias discussions, responding to bias incidents and affirming LGBTQIA+ identities in schools.
DCR recently created an Education and Public Accommodation Section within its Investigations Unit that is dedicated to investigating discrimination and harassment claims in schools.
The division is also accepting applications from high school students for its 2026-27 Youth Ambassador Program and the No Hate in the Garden State Competition.
“We remain committed to working collaboratively with educators, families, youth, and communities to ensure that every student in New Jersey can attend school in a safe, inclusive, and equitable learning environment.
“We also strongly encourage students, staff, community members and others to report evidence of discrimination or bias-based harassment to DCR immediately. To find out more or to file a complaint, please go to NJCivilRights.gov or call 1-833-NJDCR4U.
“DCR enforces the LAD, which protects all people from discrimination in New Jersey. No one can retaliate against you for reporting LAD violations, filing a discrimination complaint, or exercising other rights under the LAD.”
