UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION OFFICE FoR CIVIL RIGHTS William Perry Pendley, President ‘Mountain States Legal Foundation 2596 South Lewis Way Lakewood, CO 80227 : April 7, 2017 Dear Mr. Pendiey: ‘Thank you for your March 27, 2017, letter to Secretary DeVos urging the U.S, Departments of Education, and Justice (“the Departments”) to withdraw the May 8, 2014 joint Dear Colleague letter from the Departments to elementary and secondary school districts regarding school responsibilitics under Plyler v. Doe, 457 U.S. 202 (1982) and Titles IV and V1 of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §§ 2000c-6 and 20004. ‘Your letter was forwarded to the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to respond. As you may know, OCR enforces several federal civil rights laws including Title VI, which prohibits race, color and national origin discrimination in programs and activities operated by recipients of federal financial assistance, Your letter discusses the Mountain State Legal Foundation’s interpretation of Piyler and expresses concerns about current circumstances regarding immigration and student safety. We appreciate you sharing your thoughts with the’ Department. We are considering your comments, and we will take these under advisement as we move forward and determine what, if any, actions the Department may take the joint guidance you discussed. ‘Thank you again for writing, Sincerely, Program Legal Group Office for Civil Rights US. Department of Education 400 MARYLAND AVE., 5.W., WASHINGTON, DC 20202-1200 ‘wiredsgor (Our missions to ensure equal access to education and to promote educational meson Bought the nation