The Office of Career and Technical Preparation (OCTP) is the state office responsible for administrating a compliance program to prevent, identify, and remedy discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, disability or age by local educational agencies, career and technical education centers, or post-secondary institutions that receive federal financial assistance through a State of Michigan agency.

Civil Rights Compliance Program:
The Civil Rights Compliance Program is a comprehensive review system designed to improve the delivery of education through the assurance of equal opportunity for all groups and populations. Activities of this program are required by Section II(b) of the "Vocational Education Programs Guidelines for Eliminating Discrimination and Denial of Services on the Basis of Race, Color, National Origin, Sex, and Disability" Federal Register, Vol. 44, No. 56, page 17165, issued Wednesday, March 21, 1979.

The components and/or activities of the compliance program include: targeting analysis, selecting agencies for on-site reviews, conducting on-site reviews, compliance plans, technical assistance, reporting, monitoring, and program improvement.

The Civil Rights Compliance Program is designed to:
1. Insure that equal educational opportunities are provided to all students, including full opportunity to  participate in programs, activities, and job opportunities, and to benefit from services.
2. Prohibit barriers to achieving full participation, such as the stereotyping of individuals based on their racial, ethnic, gender identity, age, or on their disabling conditions.
3. Provide education in an integrated setting.
4. Analyze, identify, and change policies and activities that impede the achievement of the above goals.

Questions regarding the OCTP Civil Rights Compliance Program should be directed to:

Michigan Department Education
Office of Career and Technical Preparation
P.O. Box 30712, Lansing, Michigan 48909
Telephone: (517) 373-3373