As of May 28, 2019, private schools exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code will now be able to display their racial nondiscrimination policy online. The newly modernized Rev. Proc. 2019-22 updates the 1976 Rev. Proc. 75-50, which required schools to publicize their policy in either a newspaper or using broadcast media.
Exempt private schools may now publicize their policy on the home page of the school’s website, but this notice must adhere to certain criteria in order to be considered effective. The displayed homepage must be accessible to the general public, meaning it cannot require special user access such as an email address or password. The policy must be present on the page at all times during the year. Additionally, the policy has to be clearly displayed so that visitors will notice it by simply scrolling down the homepage, and it cannot be a link to a separate page displaying the policy. It is also not acceptable to provide the policy through a drop-down menu or have it appear in a carousel display.
Although this new website display provides another option to private schools, they can still publish the policy in a newsprint or on broadcast media. Both medium choices must be expected to reach all racial segments of the community.
