Education Charge Information

Please save the form, complete and submit via email to IDHR.Intake@illinois.gov. You may also mail your completed form to the Department’s address listed on the bottom of the form. If your Acrobat Reader doesn't open the CIS form, click here for help.

The Illinois Department of Human Rights takes and investigates charges of Harassment and of Sexual Harassment in Education.

It is normal to feel angry about hostile or offensive conduct, or to be embarrassed by unwanted, unflattering attention or demands. However, you have a right to be free of harassment and of sexual harassment in an educational institution.

Any student can be a victim of harassment or of sexual harassment. Charges of discrimination in an educational environment can be filed against:

• An elementary, secondary, or higher education representative.
•         Examples of an education representative include an executive, faculty member, administrative staff member, or teaching assistant.
• An institution of elementary, secondary, or higher education.

The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits harassment and sexual harassment in education where the conduct occurs at school or while at a school-related activity on or off school grounds. For example:

• An education representative.
  • To exhibit intimidating, hostile, or sexual behavior toward a student that:
    • Substantially interferes with the student's educational performance OR
    • Creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment.
• To require sexual favors as part of deciding student's:
  • Admission to the school or a particular course or program,
  • Quality of instruction,
  • Attendance or performance requirements and ratings,
  • Tuition and scholarship determinations,
  • Participation in extracurricular activities, or
  • Graduation or the degree received.
• An education institution. To fail to stop an education representative from harassing or sexually harassing a student after being informed of the conduct.
• Failure to post notice. an institution of higher education in Illinois must provide students with information about state laws and policies prohibiting sexual harassment, and where complaints of sexual harassment may be filed. The Notices for posting may be posted in common areas or provided at the time a student registers online for courses.

• Harassment
• Sexual Harassment
• Retaliation - (for opposing unlawful discrimination)

The Department cannot investigate Education charges against the Federal Government or Federal Officials.

• For more information on Sexual Harassment in Education, please download IDHR's brochure on Sexual Harassment in Education.

Submit a completed Complainant Information Sheet (CIS) either by email, mail, fax or in person. If your allegations are covered under the Illinois Human Rights Act, a charge will be drafter for your signature. A charge of Education discrimination must be filed within 300 days of the alleged discrimination. Download the CIS form using the button above.

IDHR Contact Information