U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division SSERMAA Eacatonal Opportwsies Section - PHB Dy 169.139, 930 Pennaytvania ve, 3810228 Washington,DC 20530 MAY 0 8 2017 William P. Pendley, Esq, President and Chief Legal Officer Mountain States Legal Foundation 2596 South Lewis Way Lakewood, CO 80227 Dear Mr. Pendley: ‘This is written in response to your letter to the Attorney General, dated March 27, 2017, concerning the joint May 8, 2014, Dear Colleague letter issued by the Departments of Justice and Education, Your letter has been forwarded to this office for a response. We are sure you can understand that it is not possible for the Attorney General personally to respond to all of the correspondence addressed to him. ‘The Educational Opportunities Section of the Civil Rights Division enforces federal laws that protect students from harassment or discrimination. The Section is responsible for enforcing, among other statutes, Title TV of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion in public schools and institutions of higher learning; the Equal Educational Opportunities Act of 1974 which, among other things, requires states and school districts to provide English Language Learner (ELL) students with appropriate services to overcome language barriers; and, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability. We have carefully reviewed your letter concerning the May 8, 2014, Dear Colleague letter to state and local education agencies providing guidance with respect to the implementation of the Supreme Court’s decision in Plyler v. Doe. We appreciate your taking the time to write to share your views, and you may be assured they will be given due considerati \cerehy, Aint Aziz. Ahmad a : Trial Attomey