The Attorney General administers the Civil Rights Team Project, a school-based preventative program. The mission of the Civil Rights Team Project (CRTP) is to increase the safety of elementary, middle level, and high school students by reducing bias-motivated behaviors and harassment in our schools.
The CRTP accomplishes this by supporting student civil rights teams in our schools. The CRTP and the student civil rights teams are active in engaging school communities in thinking and talking about issues related to race and skin color, national origin and ancestry, religion, disabilities, gender (including gender identity and expression), and sexual orientation.
We believe that bias-based behaviors are especially damaging, and because of their unique nature, warrant specific preventative efforts. The Civil Rights Team Project encourages school communities to engage in this important work, so that students of all identities feel safe, welcome, and respected for who they are.
History and Philosophy of the Civil Rights Team Project
The foundation of the Civil Rights Team Project is the Maine Civil Rights Act, which protects people from threats, property damage, and violence when motivated by bias.
Early enforcement efforts of the Maine Civil Rights Act revealed that many violations involve young people and happen in our schools.
In an effort to reduce the frequency of these behaviors and their impact on young people and our school communities, the Maine Office of the Attorney General created the Civil Rights Team Project. The CRTP launched as a pilot project in 18 schools in 1996. Initial efforts focused on education about the civil rights law and increasing communication and collaboration between schools and law enforcement. The Civil Rights Team Project has since grown in focus and participation. Youth are central to this process; real change in our schools must respect and include student voices.
Hundreds of Maine schools, at all age levels, public and private, rural and urban, and in all sixteen counties, have participated in the Civil Rights Team Project. More than 200 schools are currently participating.
If you are interested in starting a civil rights team at your school, please contact us.