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Federal Coordination And Compliance

 

Executive Order 13160:

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Race, Sex, Color, National Origin, Disability, Religion, Age, Sexual Orientation, and Status as a Parent in Federally Conducted Education and Training Programs
 
Overview of Executive Order 13160
On June 23, 2000, the President signed Executive Order 13160, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, disability, religion, age, sexual orientation, and status as a parent in federally conducted education and training programs. The Executive Order was issued in order to achieve equal opportunity in all federally conducted education and training programs and is premised upon the notion that the federal government should hold itself to at least the same principles of nondiscrimination in educational opportunities as it applies to the educational programs and activities of state and local governments or private entities receiving federal financial assistance. Toward that end, the Executive Order is intended to supplement existing laws and regulations that already prohibit many forms of discrimination in both federally conducted and federally assisted educational programs. To assist all federal agencies in complying with the nondiscrimination mandates of the Executive Order, the U.S. Department of Justice will issue a Guidance Document. Among the topics addressed in this Guidance Document are the scope of covered educational programs, applicable legal principles, examples of discriminatory conduct, enforcement procedures, remedies, and agency reporting requirements.

Guidance and Materials

Executive Order 13160 authorizes the Department of Justice (the Department) to issue guidance and technical assistance to individuals and entities that have rights or responsibilities under the Order.  The guidance document included below provides informal non-binding guidance to assist you in understanding Executive Order 13160. 

The guidance document is not intended to be a final agency action, has no legally binding effect, and has no force or effect of law.  The guidance document may be rescinded or modified in the Department’s complete discretion, in accordance with applicable laws. The Department’s guidance documents do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities beyond what is required by the terms of the applicable statutes, regulations, or binding judicial precedent.  For more information, see "Memorandum for All Components: Prohibition of Improper Guidance Documents," from Attorney General Jefferson B. Sessions III, November 16, 2017.

  • Executive Order 13160 (HTML or PDF)
  • Executive Order 13160 Guidance Document: Ensuring Equal Opportunity in Federally Conducted Education and Training Programs (HTML or PDF)
  • Department of Justice April 12, 2002 Memorandum to General Counsels or Agency Heads/Civil Rights Directors regarding Executive Order 13160 (HTML or PDF)
  
Updated March 18, 2019