In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). Remedies and complaint filing deadlines vary by program or incident.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.) should contact the responsible Agency or USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice or TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program discrimination complain, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, AD-3027, found online at How to File a Program Discrimination Complaint and at any USDA office or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: (1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; (2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: program.intake@usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Procedure for Handling Civil Rights Complaints

District: Gentry Public Schools 201 South Giles Avenue, Gentry AR 72734        

Civil Rights Complaint Official: Dr. Tyler Broyles, Superintendent

1. Civil rights complaints related to the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, Afterschool Care Snack Program, Summer Food Service Program, or Child and Adult Care Food Program are written or verbal allegations of discrimination based on USDA protected classes of race, color, national origin, sex (including but not limited to complaints alleging sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination), age, and disability.

2. Any person claiming discrimination has a right to file a complaint within 180 days of the alleged discrimination. A civil rights complaint based on the protected classes above must be forwarded to the address on the nondiscrimination statement.

3. All complaints, whether written or verbal, must be accepted by the School Food Authority (SFA) and forwarded to USDA at the address or link on the nondiscrimination statement within 5 working days. An anonymous complaint should be handled the same way as any other. Complaint forms may be developed, but their use cannot be required. If the complainant makes the allegations verbally or in a telephone conversation and is reluctant or refuses to put them in writing, the person who handles the complaint must document the description of the complaint.

4. There must be enough information to identify the agency or individual toward which the complaint is directed and indicate the possibility of a violation. Every effort should be made to obtain at least the following information:

• Name, address and telephone number or other means of contacting the complainant.

• The specific location and name of the organization delivering the program service or benefit.

• The nature of the incident(s) or action(s) that led the complainant to feel there was discrimination.

• The basis on which the complainant feels discrimination occurred (race, color, national 

• origin, sex, age, or disability).

• The names, titles, and addresses of people who may have knowledge of the 

  discriminatory action(s); and

• The date(s) when the alleged discriminatory action(s) occurred or, if continuing, the

  duration of such action(s).

5. USDA is the cognizant agency for the Child Nutrition Programs listed and therefore is the first contact for the protected classes listed above for complaints received within 180 days. The USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form can be found here: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form-0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf 

Mail Completed Form To:

USDA

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Ave, SW, Stop 9410

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410