What is Title VI?
Title VI prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin in any program or activity that receives federal financial assistance. Programs or activities that receive federal funds cannot discriminate among individuals on the basis of race, color or national origin, either directly or indirectly, in the types, quantity, quality or timeliness of program services, aids or benefits that they provide or the manner in which they provide them.
Federal agency regulations interpreting Title VI make clear that the law prohibits intentional discrimination as well as to procedures, criteria, or methods of administration that appear neutral but have an unjustified discriminatory effect on the basis of race, color, or national origin. Policies and practices that have such an effect must be eliminated unless a recipient can show that they were necessary to achieve a legitimate nondiscriminatory objective. Even if there is such a reason the practice cannot continue if there are alternatives that would achieve the same objectives without having the disparate effect.
Persons with limited English proficiency must also be afforded a meaningful opportunity to participate in programs that receive federal funds. Policies and practices may not deny or have the effect of denying persons with limited English proficiency equal access to Federally-funded programs for which such persons qualify.
More information on Title VI.
Why is Title VI Important?
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a landmark civil rights law. It is one of the few enforceable civil rights laws that applies to environmental policies and practices. Title VI is a powerful legal tool to hold agencies accountable for the downstream impacts of their decisions on communities of color that are already overburdened by environmental pollution.
Title VI Repository
The Clinic has developed a collection of Title VI policies, complaints, administrative determinations and other documents to make available to our clients, partners and the public. We are working on a more accessible site with easy search features, but in the meantime have created an online repository.