Green v. Miller Brief for Plaintiffs-Appellees
Public Court Documents
April 1, 1981
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Brief Collection, LDF Court Filings. Green v. Miller Brief for Plaintiffs-Appellees, 1981. e0524146-b49a-ee11-be36-6045bdeb8873. LDF Archives, Thurgood Marshall Institute. https://ldfrecollection.org/archives/archives-search/archives-item/4beab920-ed0e-4f27-806b-2aece8eb8631/green-v-miller-brief-for-plaintiffs-appellees. Accessed December 04, 2025.
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IN THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
No. 81-1038
WILLIAM H. GREEN, ET AL,,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v .
G. WILLIAM MILLER, ET AL.,
Defendants-Appellees,
BAY STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND
WOODLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ET AL.
Appellants.
BRIEF FOR PLAINTIFFS-APPELLEES
WILLIAM L. ROBINSON
NORMAN J. CHACHKIN
FRANK R. PARKER
BEATRICE ROSENBERG
LEZLI BASKERVILLE
Lawyers' Committee for
Civil Rights Under Law
733 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20005
(202) 628-6700
Attorneys for Plaintiffs-
Appellees
IN THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
No. 81-1038
WILLIAM H. GREEN, ET AL.,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
G. WILLIAM MILLER, ET AL.,
Defendants-Appellees,
BAY STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND
WOODLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ET AL.
Appellants.
CERTIFICATE OF COUNSEL
required by Rule 8 (c) of the General Rules
of the United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit
The undersigned, counsel of record for plaintiffs-appellees,
certifies that the following parties appeared below:
Plaintiffs :
William H. Green, on his own behalf and on behalf of his minor
children, Connie Green, Belinda Green, Ronnie Green, and Bessie
Green,
Vernon Tom Griffin, on his own behalf and on behalf of his minor
son, Vernon Tom Griffin, Jr.,
-l-
John D. Wesley, on his own behalf and on behalf of his minor
children, Shirley Ann Wesley, Florence Wesley, and Jessie Lee
Wesley,
Warren G, Booker, on his own behalf and on behalf of his minor
adopted son, Adam Wayne Gilley, and
Essie Bernice Austin.
Defendants:
G. William Miller, as Secretary of the Treasury of the United
States, and
Jerome Kurtz, as Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Intervenor Defendants:
Dan Coit, on his own behalf and on behalf of his minor children,
Lauren Faye Coit and Linda Ann Coit.
Proposed Intervenors:
Bay Street Presbyterian Church, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi;
Woodland Presbyterian Church, of Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Rev.
John S. Ragland; Rev. Gerald G. Morgan; James Davis Elkin; P.
Scott Griffith, Jr.; Barbara M. Porter; Doris F. Brown; Marian
M. Griffith; Rev. William H. Smith; Ralph E. Abraham and Mary
S. Abraham, his wife; William A. Gates and Vicki J. Gates, his
wife.
These representations are made in order that Judges of
this Court, inter alia, may evaluate possible disqualification
or recusal.
Norman J . Chachkin
Attorney of Record for
Plaintiffs-Appellees.
- n -
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Counter-Statement of Issue Presented
Prior and Related Proceedings
Statutes and Rules Involved
Reference to Parties and Rulings
Page
1
2
3
3
STATEMENT 4
A. The Original Action 5
B. The Supplementary Proceedings 8
C. The Motion to Intervene 14
Summary of Argument
ARGUMENT
16
THE DISTRICT COURT'S. DENIAL OF
THE MOTION TO INTERVENE WAS PROPER
A. The motion to intervene
was not timely.
B. The proposed interveners' interests
can be fully adjudicated in a sepa
rate action under 26 U.S.C. § 7428,
which would develop the particular
facts of appellants' particular sit
uation without the necessity of dis
turbing the final judgment in this
case.
Conclusion 39
Appendices
A — Rule 24, F.R. CIV. P., and 26 U.S.C. § 7428
B — IRS News Releases of July 10, 1970 and July 19, 1970
C -- IRS Commissioner Thrower's December 10, 1970 affidavit
D — Plaintiffs' 1976 motion for further relief
E -- IRS Form 5578 (October, 1976)
-iii-
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES
Cases: Pa9e
Alaniz v. Tillie Lewis Foods, 572 F.2d 557 (9th Cir.),
cert, denied sub nom. Beaver v. Alaniz, 439 U.S.
837 (1978). . ....................................... 2 2 n > 28
Associated Gen'l Contractors v. Secretary, 77 F.R.D.
31, 36-38 (C.D. Cal. 1977) ....... ............• 31
Bob Jones University v. Simon, 416 U.S. 725 (1974). . . . 22n
Brumfield v. Dodd, 425 F. Supp. 528 (E.D. La. 1976) . . . lln, 18n,24n, 32
Brumfield v. Dodd, 405 F. Supp. 338 (E.D. La. 1975) . . . lln, 36
Catholic Bishop v. NLRB, 559 F.2d 1112 (7th Cir. 1977),
aff'd 449 U.S. 490 (1979).......................... 34n
Gilmore v. City of Montgomery, 417 U.S. 556 (1974). . . . 23n
Gilmore v. City of Montgomery, 337 F. Supp. 22
(M.D. Ala. 1972), rev'd in part, 473 F.2d 832
(5th Cir. 1973), rev'd in part and remanded,
417 U.S. 556 (1974).......... .. ................... 2 3 n > 24n
Goldsboro Christian Schools v. United States,
436 F. Supp. 1314 (E.D. N.C. 1977). ................. 34n
*Green v. Connally, 330 F. Supp. 1150 (D.D.C.), aff'd
sub nom. Coit v. Green, 404 U.S. 997 (1971) ........ 2,3,6,7, 10, 20,
23, 34, 34n
Green v. Kennedy, 309 F. Supp. 1127 (D.D.C. 1970) . . . . 2 , 5 , 6
Hodason v. United Mine Workers, 153 U.S. App. D.C.
407 , 473 F. 2d 118 (1972)............ ................ 18, 28, 36
Johnson v. San Francisco Unified School Dist., 500 F.2d
349 (9th Cir. 1974).................. ............* 30
Leaal Aid Society of Alameda County v. Dunlop, 618 F .2d
48 (9th Cir. 1980).............................. .. • 29
Liddell v. Caldwell, 546 F.2d 768 (8th Cir. 1976) . . . . 29
* Cases or authorities chiefly relied upon are marked by asterisks.
-xv-
Cases (continued) Page
Moten v. Bricklayers, Masons, and Plasterers
International Union, 177 U.S. App. D.C. 17,
543 F. 2d 224 (1976)........................ .. 18
*NAACP v. New York, 413 U.S. 345 (1973) . . . .......... 18, 2 On, 37
Natural Resources Defense Council v. Costle,
136 U.S. App. D.C. 147, 561 F.2d 904 (D.C. Cir.
1977)........ ...................................... 28
Nevilles v. EEOC, 511 F.2d 303 (8th Cir. 1975) ........ 28
Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises, Inc., 256 F. Supp.
941 (D.S.C. 1966), rev'd in part, 377 F.2d 433
(4th Cir. 1967), modified and aff'd, 390 U.S. 400
(1968) ..................... .................. * • • 2 In
Norwood v. Harrison, 413 U.S. 455 (1973) . . . . . . . . 8, 21
^Norwood v. Harrison, 382 F. Supp. 921 (N.D. Miss. 1974) . 8, 9, 9n,
10, lOn, 11,
23, 24n, 35n
Prince Edward School Foundation v. Commissioner, 478
F. Supp. 107 (D.D.C. 1979), aff'd U.S. App.
D.C. , F ,2d (June 30, 1980), cert,
denied, 49 U.S.L.W. 3613 (Feb. 23, 1981) .......... 2, 30
Smuck v. Hobson, 132 U.S. App. D.C. 312, 408 F.2d
175 (D.C. Cir. 1969) .................... .. 29
Stallworth v. Monsanto Co., 558 F.2d 257 (5th Cir.
1977) ............................. .................. 19, 30
Thomas v. Review Board, 49 U.S.L.W. 4341 (April 6, 1981). 34n
United States v. Freedom Church, 613 F.2d 316 (1st
Cir. 1979) . . . . . . .................... . . . . 32
United States v. McDonald, 432 U.S. 385 (1977) ........ 29
United States v. Marion County School Dist. , 590 F. 2d
146 (5th Cir. 1979).......... ...................... 36
Wheeler v. Barrera, 417 U.S. 402 (1974) ................ 34
Wright v. Miller, 480 F. Supp. 790 (D.D.C. 1979),
appeal pending, No. 80-1124 (D.C. Cir.) . . . . . . . 2
-v-
Statutes, Regulations and Rules: Page
*26 U.S.C. § 7428 ................... .................... 2 , 16 , 17 ,
30, 32, 34,
35
26 C.F.R. § 1.6033-2 (g) (1979) ........................ H n
*F.R. CIV. P. 2 4 ................ ........................ 2
F.R. CIV. P. 25(d)(1) . ............................... 4n
Other Authorities:
Proposed Internal Revenue Procedure, 44 Fed. Reg.
9451-55 (February 9, 1979) ............ ............ 12
Proposed Internal Revenue Procedure, 43 Fed. Reg.
37296-98 (August 22, 1978) ........................ 12
Internal Revenue Service Regulation, 42 Fed. Reg.
767-68 (January 4, 1977) ........................... lln
Internal Revenue Procedure 75-50, 1975-2 Cum. Bull. 587 . lln
Internal Revenue Ruling 75-231, 1975-1 Cum. Bull. 158 . . 11, lln
Internal Revenue Service News Release IR-1930 .......... 25n
Internal Revenue Service Technical Information
Release No. 1449 ............ ..................... lln
Internal Revenue Service, Hearing: Proposed Revenue
Procedure on Tax Exempt Private Schools (December
5, 1978) .................... ................ 27n
-vi-
IN THE
UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA CIRCUIT
No. 81-1038
WILLIAM H. GREEN, ET AL.,
Plaintiffs-Appellees,
v.
G. WILLIAM MILLER, ET AL.,
Defendants-Appellees,
BAY STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND
WOODLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ET AL.
Appellants.
BRIEF FOR PLAINTIFFS-APPELLEES
COUNTER-STATEMENT OF ISSUE PRESENTED
Whether the District Court properly declined, in 1980, to
permit appellants to intervene in a suit instituted in 1969,
when: (a) a final judgment (of which they were aware) had been
entered in the case six months prior to their motion to inter
vene; (b) steps to protect appellees' rights by implementing
that judgment were well under way; (c) appellants knew or should
-,2-
have known, from the time the Presbyterian Christian School was
established in 1976, and at all times thereafter, that the school
would fall within the orbit of this action; and (d) the inter-
venors can fully protect their interest by a separate action
under 26 U.S.C. § 7428.
PRIOR AND RELATED PROCEEDINGS
The instant matter was commenced in 1969. A preliminary
injunction was issued in 1970 sub nom. Green v. Kennedy,
309 F. Supp. 1127. A permanent injunction was issued by a three-
judge court in 1971 sub nom. Green v . Connally, 330 F. Supp.
1150; this judgment was affirmed by the Supreme Court sub nom.
Coit v. Green, 404 U.S. 997 (1971).
In 1976 a nationwide class action was filed seeking relief
similar to that sought by plaintiffs in the instant case. The
District Court's ruling dismissing that action, Wright v. Miller,
480 F. Supp. 790 (D.D.C. 1979), is presently pending before this
Court on appeal, D.C. Cir. No. 80—1124. A case involving issues
similar to claims which appellants would seek to litigate here if
granted intervention is Prince Edward School Foundation v. Commis
sioner, 478 F. Supp. 107 (D.D.C. 1979), aff'd____U.S. App. D.C.
____, ____F.2d _____ (June 30, 1980), cert, denied, 49 U.S.L.W.
3613 (Feb. 23, 1981).
A previous post-judgment motion to intervene by parties
including the Association of Christian Schools International and
-3-
the first Presbyterian Church of Jackson, Mississippi was denied
by the District Court on July 9, 1980 and that Order denying
intervention was appealed to this Court. That case was docketed
here as No. 80-1913 and was argued before a panel consisting of
Chief Judge McGowan, Circuit Judge Tamm, and Senior Circuit Judge
Danaher on April 2, 1981.
STATUTES AND RULES INVOLVED
Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and the
pertinent portions of 26 U.S.C. § 7428 are set forth in Appen
dix A to this brief.
REFERENCE TO PARTIES AND RULINGS
This is an appeal from an order of Judge George L. Hart,
Jr., of the United States District Court for the District of
Columbia, entered December 9, 1980, denying a motion to inter
vene. The ruling is not reported but appears at page 82 of the
Appendix.
The appellants, proposed intervenors, are the Bay Street
Presbyterian Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Woodland Presby
terian Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi; their respective clergy
men; teachers in a private school operated by the churches; and
parents of children who attend the school.
The plaintiffs in the action are black federal taxpayers
and their minor children attending public schools in Mississippi.
-4-
The adult plaintiffs are William H. Green, Vernon Tom Griffin,
John D. Wesley, Warren G. Booker, and Essie Bernice Austin.
Defendants in the action are the Secretary of the Treasury_±J
of the United States and the Commissioner of Internal Revenue.
Persons previously allowed to intervene are Dan Coit and
his minor children, Lauren and Linda Coit.
STATEMENT
Appellants challenge a District Court Order of December 9,
1980, denying their post-judgment motion to intervene in this
case, which was commenced in 1969, reopened in 1976, and termi
nated with a final judgment six months prior to appellants' seek
ing intervention.
1/ The current defendants are sbustituted for their predeces
sors pursuant to F.R. CIV. P. 25(d) (1).
-5—
A. The Original Action
The action in which appellants sought to intervene is a
class action, commenced in 1969, by which black taxpayers and
their minor children attending public schools in Mississippi
sought to enjoin the Secretary of the Treasury and the Commis
sioner of Internal Revenue from according tax-exempt status to
private schools in Mississippi which exclude students on the
basis of race. See Green v. Connally, 330 F. Supp. 1150 (D.D.C.),
aff'd vjithout opinion sub nom. Coit v. Green, 404 U.S. 997 (1971),
Permitted to intervene in that action on January 21, 1970, were
representatives of the class of parents and children who support
or attend private nonprofit, hitherto tax-exempt schools in Mis-
_2/sissippi having an all-white enrollment,established as a means
of enabling white students to avoid desegregated public schools.
See 330 F. Supp. at 1155.
In January, 1970, the District Court enjoined the IRS from
approving any pending or future application for tax-exempt status
unless it "first affirmatively determine[s] pursuant to appropriate
directives and procedures satisfactory to this Court that the
applicant school is not part of a system of private schools oper
ated on a racially segregated basis as an alternative to white
students seeking to avoid desegregated public schools." Green v.
Kennedy, 309 F. Supp. 1127, 1140 (D.D.C. 1970).
2/ Applications to intervene by persons and schools outside the
State of Mississippi were denied.
The preliminary injunction was based upon the record of
private school interference with desegregation which had been
made in an earlier Mississippi federal court case, Coffey v.
State Educ. Fin. Conun1 n , 296 F. Supp. 1389 (S.D. Miss. 1969)
(three-judge court), which successfully challenged the state's
tuition grant program. See Green v. Kennedy, supra, 309
F. Supp. at 1134; Green v. Connally, supra, 330 F. Supp. at
1174. Coffey involved church-related, as well as non-sectarxan
schools; at least one church-connected school is identified in
the reported opinion, 296 F. Supp. at 1393 ("S.W. Miss. Chris
tian" ) .
On June 26, 1970, the Green court directed the "defen
dants to suspend the advance assurance of deductibility [of]
contributions for segregated private schools in Mississippi
which were . . . cited in the Coffey litigation . . . ," which
included church-connected schools. In August and December,
1970, the Commissioner of IRS reported in sworn affidavits to
the Green court that its orders were being carried out with
respect to all Mississippi private schools, including those
operated by churches. See notes 3 and 4, infra, and accompany
ing text.
-7-
On June 30, 1971, the District Court issued an injunction
restraining the Secretary of the Treasury and the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue from approving tax-exempt status under Sec
tion 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code for any private
school located in the State of Mississippi unless such school
made a showing that it had adopted and publicized, in a manner
reasonably effective to bring the matter to the attention of
minority students and parents, a racially non-discriminatory
admissions policy; and unless the school supplied to the IRS in
formation concerning the organization of the school and the ra
cial composition of its student body (see 330 F. Supp. at 1179-
80) .
As the District Court noted in its 1971 opinion, while the
case was pending before it the Internal Revenue Service, on
July 10, 1970, had itself announced in a press release that it
would grant tax exemption only to schools having "racially non-
discriminatory admission policies." See 330 F. Supp. at 1172.
In a press release of July 19, 1970 explaining its earlier state
ment, the IRS added that its "statement of position on racially
nondiscriminatory admissions policies would be applicable to all
_3/
private schools, whether church related or not."
In an affidavit filed in this case on December 10, 1970,
3/ Both press releases are attached to the August 21, 1970 affi
davit of IRS Commissioner Randolph Thrower, filed in this case
along with the government's Motion to Dismiss of that date, and
contained in that portion of the record which has not been trans
mitted to this Court. For the convenience of the Court, we have
reproduced the news releases in Appendix B infra.
-8-
_£/
before issuance of the permanent injunction, the Commissioner
of Internal Revenue stated that the Service had mailed letters
to approximately 5,000 private schools in the United States which
had previously received favorable rulings on tax exemption. He
also said:
It is estimated that there are, in addi
tion, more than 10,000 private schools
which are covered by group rulings, as
through a ruling given to a church cover
ing all of the church-owned private schools.
Similar information is being obtained as to
the admission policies of such schools.
B. The Supplementary Proceedings
In 1976, the plaintiffs, contending that the IRS had failed
to comply with the 1971 orders of the District Court, moved for
_5/additional relief. The motion arose in part out of develop
ments in the case of Norwood v, Harrison, 413 U.S. 455 (.1973) ,
in which the Supreme Court had held that Mississippi schools
which discriminated on the basis of race were ineligible to re
ceive state-loaned textbooks.
On remand of that case (see 382 F. Supp. 921 [N.D. Miss.
1974]), the District Court for the Northern District of Missis
sippi ordered the establishment of a certification procedure
4/ The affidavit was attached to the government's Memorandum
of Points and Authorities in Opposition to Plaintiffs' Motion
for Summary Judgment and Interveners' Motion for Summary Judg
ment. It is reprinted in Appendix C infra.
5/ That motion, which was also not included in the portions of
the record transmitted to this Court, is reproduced in Appendix
D infra.
-9
whereby schools applying for textbooks were required to give in
formation as to their organization and student body, including
answers to questions about whether and how they had publicized a
policy of nondiscrimination. (The form is attached as an appen
dix to the District Court's opinion, 382 F. Supp. at 936-39.)
Thereafter, in reviewing evidence as to schools whose eligibility
was disputed, Chief Judge Ready held that a prima facie case of
racial discrimination was shown by evidence that a "school's
existence began close upon the heels of" public school desegrega
tion in the area, and that the school had never enrolled a black
6/
student nor employed a black teacher or administrator.
(382 F. Supp. at 924-925.) He then listed illustrative factors
which could overcome the presumption, including publicity of a
nondiscriminatory policy, communication with black community
6/ In 1971, the three-judge court had held (330 F. Supp. at
1173-74) (emphasis supplied):
The history of state-established seg
regation in Mississippi, coupled with the
founding of new private schools there at
times reasonably proximate to public school
desegregation litigation, leaves private
schools in Mississippi carrying a badge of
doubt. The finding in the Coffey case,
supra, which has not been controverted and
which we accept, that the new schools were
established as segregated schools leads us
to declare that it is the duty of the
Internal Revenue Service to seek out sup
plementary information, whether or not
required for schools elsewhere, before
granting final rulings of tax-exempt status
arid deductibility of contributions to those
private Mississippi schools applying for
such benefits. The same condition of rea
sonable proximity to desegregation litiga
tion applies not only to schools organized
in contemplation of litigation about to
start, but also to schools subsequently
organized in the wake of a decree.
-10
leaders, etc. (See 382 F. Supp. at 926.)
Judge Keady's opinion dealt specifically with a number of
religious schools, i.e., the South Haven Mennonite School, which^
he held ineligible for textbook loans (382 F. Supp. at 927-28);
the Christ Episcopal Day School, which he found nondiscriminatory
even though the step of adopting a nondiscriminatory policy was
"taken as a direct result of Green v. Connally" (i.s. , this case) ,
(382 F. Supp. at 931-32); and the Presbyterian Day School of
Cleveland, which was approved only conditionally because, al
though the church itself did not discriminate, the school had
failed to publicize its willingness to accept black students
(382 F. Supp. at 932-35).
Plaintiffs discovered that a number of schools, including
several specifically attacked in the earlier phase of this, the
Green litigation, were still enjoying federal tax-exempt status
although they had been found ineligible to receive textbook loans
from the State of Mississippi because of their racially discrim
inatory policies. The IRS had failed to act against schools
7/ Judge Keady's conclusion about this school was as follows:
(~382 F. Supp. at 928) :
Admittedly the factors for a prima facie
case are here present. The only question is
whether this school, sponsored by a close-knit
Christian membership, has successfully rebut
ted the inference of a racially discriminatory
admissions policy. The school's reluctance,
if not disdain, in presenting evidence to this
court has not facilitated our task. _Neverthe
less, this court has undertaken to give this
school utmost, careful consideration in view
of its status as a church-sponsored school
emphasizing religion. Despite contrary claims,
however, we are driven to the conclusion that
the South Haven school exists as a haven for
perpetuating white, segregated education.
-11-
adiudicated discriminatory under the Norwood standards in both
Mississippi and Louisiana, apparently because there were no
_9/
IRS announcements setting forth such standards. However, the
IRS had, on May 22, 1975, issued Revenue Ruling 75-231, 1975-1
Cum. Bull. 158, which proclaimed explicitly that organizations
"including churches, that conduct schools with a policy of re
fusing to accept children from certain racial and ethnic groups
10/
will not be recognized as tax-exempt."
In response to the plaintiffs' motion, the government orig
inally moved to dismiss the action (this request was denied by
Judge Waddy on May 25, 1977); subsequently, the IRS advised the
District Court, inter alia, that
Plaintiffs' 1976 motion reopening this lawsuit
prompted the Service to review its procedures
for determining whether private schools seeking
8/ See Brumfield v. Dodd, 405 F. Supp. 338 (E.D. La. 1975);
id. , 425 F. Supp. 528 (E.D. La. 1976)'.
9/ Thus, for example, Rev. Proc. 75-50, adopted November 6,
1975, contained no reference to the relationship between a pri
vate school's establishment or expansion and public school deseg
regation.
10/ Rev. Rul. 75-231 was appended to the February 6, 1976 letter
from IRS Chief Counsel Meade Whitaker to Green plaintiffs' counsel
Frank Parker which is Exhibit 8 to the 1976 motion for further
relief (see note 5 supra). It appears in Appendix D to this
brief, pp. 40d- 41d infra. Subsequently, on November 6, 1975,
the IRS issued Rev. Proc. 75-50, 1975-2 Cum. Bull. 587, setting
forth the showing that had to be made to establish a school's
nondiscriminatory policy. (But see note 9 supra.) On March 19,
1976, the IRS issued Technical Information Release No. 1449, an
nouncing that the annual certification of nondiscrimination re
quired by Rev. Proc. 75-50 should be filed along with a school's
Form 990 information return; and that for schools which did not
file Form 990 [such as church schools, see 26 C.F.R. §1.6033-2(g)
(1979); 42 Fed. Reg. 767-68 (.Jan. 4, 1977)], "a separate certifi
cation form is being developed . . . ." That form was issued in
1976 and a copy is attached to this Brief as Appendix E.
or maintaining Section 501(c)(3) tax exemp
tion have racially nondiscriminatory admis
sions policies as to students. After review
ing the Service's existing guidelines and
the judicial authority in racial discrimina
tion cases, the Service concluded that its
existing procedures do not provide adequate
guidance with respect to certain schools
formed or substantially expanded at the time
of public school desegregation in the commu
nity. Defendants believe that the Service's
existing procedures are ineffective in iden
tifying such schools whose formation or ex
pansion raise substantial doubts concerning
their practices, even though the schools may
profess an open enrollment policy and comply
with the yearly publication requirement of
Rev. Proc. 75-50. 11/
It therefore published, for comment, a proposed Revenue Procedure
providing additional guidelines to be used in reviewing private
schools' eligibility for tax-exempt status. 43 Fed. Reg. 37296-
98 (August 22, 1978). These clearly applied to church-operated
schools. In hearings on the proposed Revenue Procedure held in
Washington on December 5-8, 1978, testimony was given by a num
ber of representatives of religious organizations, including
counsel for the Association of Christian Schools International,
asserting conflict with religious freedom. After receiving and
reviewing numerous comments, the Service made substantial revi
sions and reissued the guidelines for comment on February 9,
1979, 44 Fed. Reg. 9451-55. The proposed Procedure has never
12/
been implemented.
11/ Memorandum of Defendants in Response to Plaintiffs' Submis-
iTon on the Merits, filed November 27, 1979, at 20-21.
12/ In 1979 and 1980, the Congress approved riders to Treasury
Department appropriations measures prohibiting the use of funds
to carry out the guidelines.
13-
On cross-motions for summary judgment, the District Court
held that the IRS had not violated the order of June 30, 1971,
but that the order required supplementation and modification.
(A. 6.) Paragraph (1) of the 1980 ruling expanded the injunction
to prohibit the grant of tax-exempt status to Mississippi private
schools
which have been determined in adversary or
administrative proceedings to be racially
discriminatory; or [which] were established
or expanded at or about the time the public
school districts in which they are located
or which they serve were desegregating, and
which cannot demonstrate that they do not
racially discriminate in admissions, employ
ment, scholarships, loan programs, athletics,
and extra-curricular programs.
Paragraph (2) explained that the existence of the conditions set
forth in paragraph (1) raises an inference of discrimination
which can be overcome "by evidence which clearly and convincingly
reveals objective acts and declarations establishing that such is
not proximately caused by such school's policies and practices,
and set forth non-exclusively the type of evidence which would
tend to establish nondiscrimination. (A. 7.)
The Court also modified the prior decree to require greater
regularity in the schools' publicizing of nondiscriminatory poli
cies and to require the IRS to collect additional information
with respect to the organization and status of the school.
(A. 8-9 .) The IRS was directed to take all reasonable steps to
determine which, if any, church—related schools in Mississippi
would come under the definition of Paragraph (1), and with re
spect to such schools to collect the information required by the
-14-
permanent injunction. (A. 10.) Finally, the Service was ordered
to deny tax exemption unless the showing and information required
by the permanent injunction, as amended, was made within specific
times. (A. 9.) The order was amended on June 2, 1980, to make
clear that it was intended to require that the Service collect
information from, and reconsider the tax-exempt status of, only
those schools which have in the past been determined to be raci-•----- -*--- «
ally discriminatory, or which were established or expanded at or
about the time the public school districts in which they are loca
ted or serve were desegregated. (A. 11-13.)
C. The Motion to Intervene
On November 25, 1980, six months after a final order had
been entered in this case, and several months after implementa
tion efforts were commenced pursuant to that order, two churches,
their clergymen, and parents and teachers in the religious school
operated by the churches, moved to intervene in this action (A.
14-73). The churches alleged that they operate and maintain the
Presbyterian Christian School "as an integral part of their re
ligious mission" for "all persons, regardless of their race,
whose parents desire their instruction in the Biblical faith o£
[the churches] and who abide by the religious and moral princi
ples of behavior adopted by" the churches (A. 14, 18). The
motion averred that the school enrolls children who reside in
public school districts in Mississippi which have been desegrega
ted or are being desegregated, and that, at present, none of the
-15-
students or teachers at the school is black (A. 18). The pro
posed intervenors alleged that the order of May 5, 1980, as
amended, "unduly burdens the right of a wholly religious enter
prise to conduct its religious ministry in education free from
government direction, supervision, investigation, and evaluation,
all in violation of the First Amendment" (A. 25). The applica
tion to intervene also alleged that the motion was timely because
no church schools were implicated in the original complaint or
heard on the motion of the plaintiffs, filed in July 1976, to
enforce the original (June 30, 1971) decree (A. 26). Appended
to the motion was an affidavit of applicants' attorney stating
that he was first contacted by the two churches on July 28, 1980,
and informed that the school had received a questionnaire from
11/the IRS dated June 30, 1980 (A. 72-73).
Also annexed to the motion to intervene was a proposed an
swer to the complaint in which the applicants challenged the
status of the plaintiffs to maintain this action and asserted
that the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 does not require that
religious schools adopt or publicize a policy of racial nondis
crimination as a condition of being accorded recognition of tax
exemption (A. 68); and a proposed response to the July, 1976
motion of plaintiffs to enforce and modify the original decree
13/ The questionnaire sent to the Presbyterian Christian School
Ts not part of the record and has not been reprinted by the ap
pellants. It was apparently dated June 30, 1980 and received by
the school on July 7, 1980 (see A. 27, 72). The questionnaire
and accompanying letter from the IRS were probably the same as
those sent on June 30, 1980 to the First Presbyterian Day School
of Jackson, Mississippi, which is reprinted as an appendix to the
Brief for Appellants in No. 80-1913, at 45-48.
-16-
in which applicants alleged that, if the decree were extended to
include churches and other religious entities, it would violate
the First Amendment (A. 70).
Plaintiffs—appellees on December 5, 1980 filed a Memorandum
opposing the attempt to intervene (A. 74-77). We argued that the
motion was untimely, especially since the same attorney repre
sented parties who had earlier sought unsuccessfully to intervene
in the action after the May 5, 1980 decree; that 26 U.S.C. § 7428
provided an adequate forum to litigate the applicants' claims;
and that those claims were not ripe for adjudication until the
IRS took some action with respect to the Presbyterian Christian
School's entitlement to tax-exempt status pursuant to the May 5
decree, as amended. The District Court denied the motion to in
tervene on December 9, 1980 (A. 81) and this appeal followed.
SUMMARY OF ARGUMENT
Contrary to appellants' contentions, this lawsuit has al
ways involved church-connected, as well as non-sectarian, schools.
Appellants should have been and must have been on notice, from
the time this matter was reopened in 1976 and thereafter, that
it could affect the standards or procedures which the Internal
Revenue Service would apply in determining the eligibility of
Mississippi private schools for tax-exempt status. Appellants’
failure to seek intervention in this a.ction until after the case
had proceeded to final judgment thus amply justified denial of
their motion by the court below on the ground that it was untimely.
-17-
Appellants' rights may be fully protected in a separate
declaratory judgment action authorized under 26 D.S.C. § 7428.
Such a suit would focus on the particular facts relating to the
Presbyterian Christian School and would provide the concrete set
ting necessary to permit judicial resolution of the First Amend
ment claims which appellants seek to raise. These claims are
hypothetical until the Internal Revenue Service, carrying out the
District Court's Order, makes a determination with respect to the
Presbyterian Christian School's continuing eligibility for tax-
exempt status, and are thus not now ripe for resolution through
intervention in this case. Once the Service has acted and the
issues are framed, a § 7428 proceeding would provide the most
expeditious forum for their determination.
-18-
ARGUMENT
THE DISTRICT COURT'S DENIAL OF THE
MOTION TO INTERVENE WAS PROPER
A. The motion to intervene was not timely.
It is well-established that, in accord with the language of
Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, before granting
a motion to intervene, the court "must first be satisfied as to
timeliness." NAACP v. New York, 413 U.S. 345, 365 (1973). See
also Moten v. Bricklayers, Masons and Plasterers International
Union, 177 U.S. App. D.C. 77, 81, 543 F.2d 224, 228 (1976). Time
liness is a flexible concept, to be determined from all the cir
cumstances of the case. Hodgson v. United Mine Workers, 153 U.S.147
App. D.C. 407, 473 F.2d 118 (1972). As a result, the question
of timeliness is largely committed to the discretion of the dis
trict court, whose determination will not be overturned on appeal
unless an abuse of discretion has been shown. NAACP v. New York,
supra, 413 U.S. at 366. While the point to which the suit has
progressed is not solely dispositive, it is an appropriate factor
to be considered. NAACP v. New York, supra, 413 U.S. at 366.
Even more significant is the length of time during which the
would-be intervenor actually knew or reasonably should have known
14/ Accord, Brumfield v. Dodd, supra, 425 F. Supp. at 531 (post
judgment motion of Grawood Christian School to intervene in Lou
isiana textbook-aid case denied as untimely).
-19-
of his interest in the case before he petitioned for leave to
intervene. Stallworth v. Monsanto Co., 558 F.2d 257, 264 (5th
Cir. 1977).
Appellants are disingenuous in their assertion that their
motion was timely because they moved to intervene immediately
after they realized they would be affected by the May 5, 1980
order of the District Court. Of course, appellants did not know
the exact terms of the order until it was entered. But if they
did not know — long before that time — that all-white, church-
related schools in Mississippi, established after desegregation
orders in their localities, could be affected by the Green liti
gation (at least to the extent of being asked to provide the IRS
with information), that could be only because they deliberately
chose to ignore what they had to know.
1. It is inconceivable that any white, private school in
Mississippi was unaware of the Green litigation. When the first
order for a temporary injunction in January, 1970 barred the IRS
from approving an application for tax exemption unless it deter
mined that the school was not part of a system of private schools
"operated on a racially segregated basis as an alternative to
white students seeking to avoid desegregated public schools," an
action closely following well-publicized proceedings in federal
court in Mississippi which invalidated a state tuition grant
program, it became immediately apparent that any private school
in the state was potentially subject to being affected by an
order in the Green case.
-20-
Any possible doubt on that score would have had to be dis
sipated by the IRS press releases of July, 1970 making clear that
its "statement of position on racially nondiscriminatory admis
sions policies would be applicable to all private schools, whether
church related or not." (See Statement, supra, at 7.) Since it
had not yet been created, the Presbyterian Christian School was
not sent the letter to which the Commissioner referred in his
1970 affidavit (see Statement, supra, at 8). But in view of the
continuing action by the Service in this area (see note 10,
supra, and accompanying text) it is difficult to believe that
any private school interested in its tax-exempt status would not
be aware of the case.
Appellants stress that the initial opinion on the permanent
injunction reserved (as not before the Court then) the question
whether a school could be granted exemption if discrimination was
dictated by the religion itself (see 330 F. Supp. at 1169). The
point is a curious one, for it suagests that appellants not only
15/
were aware of the Green litigation as early as 1971 but also
15/ Nowhere in their pleadings before the District Court nor in
their brief in this Court do appellants ever state that they had
no knowledge of this litigation before May 5, 1980. They focus
only on the provisions of the May 5, 1980 judgment itself but
if prescience as to the contents of a yet unwritten ruling were
the only basis for a finding of untimeliness, there would be lit
tle finality of judgments in American law. Cf. NAACP v. New York,
supra.
-21-
were aware that tax exemptions for religious schools could become
an issue in the case. Yet they chose to remain outside the liti
gation, after it was reopened in 1976, until a final judgment was
16/
entered. Even though appellants' reading of the 1971 opinion
17/
is fundamentally in error, therefore, their heavy emphasis on
16/ Had appellants not slept on their rights, by deliberately
seeking to ignore this litigation so long as no order had been
entered which they viewed as objectionable, they would have noted
the discussion of religious schools in the plaintiffs' 1976 mo
tion for further relief, in the cases cited by plaintiffs in that
motion, in the correspondence appended to the motion as exhibits,
and in the IRS Revenue Procedures attached to that document.
(See Appendix D infra.) These indications would have motivated
a responsible party to intervene on a timely basis.
17/ Appellants propose a tortured interpretation of the words,
"acts of racial restriction," from the 1971 opinion — which they
claim indicate that the District Court did not mean to include
within the ambit of its decree private sectarian schools, formed
in the wake of public school desegregation, which limited their
enrollment on a religious basis and had all-white enrollments.
(No. 80-1913 App. Br. at 14-15.) This construction of the opin
ion is plainly inconsistent with the District Court's statement,
in the same part of its 1971 opinion, that the issue it preter-
mitted "may never arise . . . ," a statement which obviously re
fers to the expectedly unusual case in which there is a claim
that racial discrimination is a tenet of religious belief. Cf.
Newman v. Piggie Park Enterprises, Inc., 256 F. Supp. 941, 944,
945 (D. S.C. 1966), rev'd in part on other grounds, 377 F.2d 433
(4th Cir. 1967), modified on other grounds and aff'd, 390 U.S.
400 (1968). Appellants' reading of the opinion also contradicts
the IRS' consistent interpretation of its application to sectar
ian schools since 1970. See Statement, supra, at 6-8; n.10 and
accompanying text. It is hardly unreasonable to expect that, if
the District Court had intended its 1971 decree to bind the IRS
only with respect to private, nonsectarian schools in Mississippi,
it would have said so in its order or opinion.
Appellants also imply that they were entitled to ignore the
Green litigation because the 1971 opinion and decree "did not
[footnote continued on next page]
23-
2. Even assuming that, in 1971, there could have been some
doubt as to the inclusion of all-white church schools, founded
after desegregation orders in their locales, within the class of
schools which would be affected by a suit designed to prohibit
tax exemption for private schools serving as an alternative to
desegregated public schools, there could be absolutely no ques
tion as to such inclusion after the developments in Norwood v.
Harrison, supra, particularly on the remand in the trial court.
See Statement, supra, at 8-10. The opinion on remand made it
absolutely clear that church schools could come within a judicial
definition of a prima facie racially discriminatory school. As
noted in the Statement, the opinion of Judge Ready specifically
dealt with three church schools, including a Presbyterian Day
School in Cleveland, Mississippi. It is inconceivable that a
private church school in Mississippi could have been unaware of
the Norwood opinion. And since that opinion several times re
ferred to the opinion in Green v. Connally (see 382 F. Supp. at
929, 932, 934), the close relationship between the two cases in
defining what constitutes a prima facie racially segregated
school had to be apparent to school administrators, whether or
18/
not they are lawyers.
18/ Cases arising in states adjacent to Mississippi during this
time also subjected church-related and non-sectarxan schools to
the same standards of racial nondiscrimination. In Gilmore v.
City of Montgomery, 417 U.S. 556, 569 (1974), the Supreme Court
unanimously upheld a district court injunction prohibiting cxty
authorities from allowing private schools (and affiliated groups)
to use public recreational facilities because
the city's actions significantly enhanced
the attractiveness of segregated private
schools, formed in reaction against the
[footnote continued on next page]
-2 5-
3. Proposed intervenors were under a duty to keep abreast
of developments in the Green case since they had to know that
tax-exempt church schools were potentially concerned. They thus
had to realize that, if they wanted to assert an interest in their
alleged right to be free of all inquiry as to their tax-exempt
status, they had to move to intervene, at the very latest, when
19/
plaintiffs made the motion for additional relief in 1976.
That obligation became even clearer in the face of the IRS Aug
ust 22, 1978 proposed guidelines for determining whether a school
should be deemed racially discriminatory. Those proposed guide
lines clearly concerned church schools. A number of religious
organizations testified at the December, 1978, hearings held
by the IRS on the proposal. Since the guidelines related to
tax exemption, their relationship to the Green case had to be
20/
self-evident to any interested person, layman or lawyer.
19/ Plaintiffs' motion, together with its attachments, is part
of the District Court record which was not transmitted to this
Court. It is reproduced in Appendix D, infra.
20/ The IRS itself consistently made clear that development of
the proposed guidelines was undertaken because of the Green case.
For example, in a January 9, 1978 address to the PLI Seventh
Biennial Conference on Tax Planning for Foundations (the text of
which was issued as News Release IR-1930 by the Service), Commis
sioner Kurtz stated (at 8-10) (emphasis supplied):
. . . As I will relate in a moment, the
Service has taken significant steps in
recent years to improve compliance with
its private school policy. We expect
further guidance from the court since
we are presently involved in litigation
[footnote continued on next page]
26-
4. The appellants do not explain why they became aware of
the May 5, 1980 order in this case in time to contact counsel on
[continuation of footnote no. 20]
about our enforcement program.
. . . Service ruling policy is found in
Revenue Rulings 71-447 and 75-231. Guide
lines and procedures are found in Revenue
Procedure 75-50. Essentially, these three
documents deny tax exemption to private
schools that discriminate in their admis
sions policy on the basis of race or eth
nic origin. Church-related private schools
are covered within this policy as well as
the churches that operate and control them.
. . . One question is how we should evaluate
the bona fides of the admission policy of
schools located in communities subject to
desegregation orders that operate over a
long period of time without actually enroll
ing any minority students. Does that fact
create a presumption calling for more careful
scrutiny? Might a similar rule be applicable
even in the absence of local desegregation
orders? And, on the other side of that ques
tion, what steps can an exempt school take in
such a situation to establish that it, in
fact, has been open to children of all races
and ethnic groups?
Similarly, Commissioner Kurtz opened the December, 1978 hearings
on the proposed guidelines by stating:
The plaintiffs in the original Green case I
mentioned earlier have reopened the case and
at approximately the same time a nation-wide
class action was filed challenging the ade
quacy of the Service's enforcement in this
area. The Civil Rights Division in the
Department of Justice and the Commission on
Civil Rights also have been critical of the
Service's rules in this area. We have re
viewed our current rules and have concluded
that more objective rules may be necessary
to identify those schools which, while
[footnote continued on next page]
-27-
July 28,1980 (see A. 72), -but were unaware of the case before
that time. From the papers that are attached to appellants'
brief, it appears that the Internal Revenue Service did not con
tact their School until June 30, 1980 (see also A. 27, 72). It
is a reasonable inference that the IRS, which seemed to have dif
ficulty in identifying tax-exempt church schools in Mississippi,
had not reached the School with any inquiry before the May 5,
1980 order, and it may be that the School was not interested
in making the IRS aware of its exempt status by moving to inter
vene in the action until it became clear from the May 5 order
that the school would be a subject of inquiry. Be that as it
may, it is abundantly clear, from the court opinions and the IRS
releases, that no minimally responsible Mississippi school admin
istrator could have been unaware, before 1976 at the very latest,
that the Green litigation potentially involved white church
schools established after desegregation orders in their areas.
The proposed intervenors, if they cared about their tax-exempt
status at all, had to know that such status could be implicated
[continuation of footnote no. 20]
claiming a nondiscriminatory policy, are
operated in a manner excluding minority
students. The Court has deferred any
action on the two cases at this time,
pending resolution of the Service's final
action with regard to the proposed revenue
procedure.
Internal Revenue Service, Hearing: Proposed Revenue Procedure
on Tax Exempt Private Schools (December 5, 1978) at 9-10 (empha
sis supplied).
-28-
in the Green case. If they wanted to represent their interest,
vis-a-vis the controversy between the Green plaintiffs and the
IRS, they should have moved to intervene much earlier than they
did. At the very latest, they should have so moved at the time
of the motion to modify the injunction order in 1976. They could
not ignore the potential effect and wait for certainty in the
outcome before moving to intervene.
The burden is on the movants to show why they should be
allowed to come into this case at this late date. Nevilles v._
EEOC, 511 F.2d 303, 305 {8th Cir. 1975). The fact that the pro
posed interveners did not know with certainty the terms that
would be imposed by the final order (although in view of the IRS
proposed guidelines, they could have fairly anticipated what the
ultimate ruling would be) does not excuse their delay since they
surely knew the risks. See Alaniz v. Tillie Lewis Foods,
572 F.2d 657, 659 (9th Cir.), cert, denied sub nom. Beaver v.
Alaniz, 439 U.S. 837 (1978).
In nearly all of the intervention cases upon which appel
lants seek to rely, one of two circumstances was present: either
the applicants for intervention did not wish to reopen issues
decided earlier in the litigation, but merely to participate in
further judicial proceedings (as in this Court's decisions in
Hodgson v. United Mine Workers of America, 153 U.S. App. D.C.
407, 473 F.2d 118 (D.C. Cir. 1972), and Natural Resources Defense
Council v. Costle, 186 U.S. App. D.C. 147, 561 F.2d 904 (D.C.
Cir. 1977), or the 8th Circuit's ruling in riddell v. Caldwell,
-29-
546 F.2d 768 (8th Cir. 1976); or the applicants had justifiably
relied upon the existing parties to represent their interests and
moved to intervene promptly upon discovering that they did not
(as in the Supreme Court's ruling in United States v. McDonald,
432 U.S. 385 (1977), this Court's decision in Smuck v. Hobson,
132 U.S. App. D.C. 312, 408 F.2d 175 (D.C. Cir. 1969), or Legal
Aid Society of Alameda County v. Dunlop, 618 F.2d 48 (9th Cir.
1980). Neither factor justifies appellants' delay here:
1. Appellants' proposed pleadings indicated their desire
to relitigate settled issues, such as plaintiffs' standing and
the scope of the district court's 1971 decree. Moreover, there
were no further proceedings scheduled before the district court
in which appellants sought to participate.
2. Nor could appellants claim any justifiable reliance
upon the other parties to litigate the First Amendment issues
which they now seek to have resolved. Appellants recognize that
these claims have not been adjudicated in this case — which is
because they have never been raised formally by any of the liti
gating parties. Yet, as we have shown earlier in our brief,
church-connected schools have been considered by the parties and
by the district court to have been within the purview of the case
at least since 1970, when IRS Commissioner Alexander informed the
Court in a written affidavit that the Service was attempting to
collect the information required by the preliminary injunction
from church schools. Appellants disdained seasonable interven
tion in this case at the risk of a later finding of untimeliness,
-30-
which has come to pass.
Finally, two other decisions upon which appellants rely are
also distinguishable from the instant case. In Johnson v. San
Francisco Unified School Dist., 500 F.2d 349 (9th Cir. 1974), the
Court of Appeals would have affirmed the denial of intervention
based upon untimeliness as not an abuse of discretion; however,
since it was remanding on the merits for further proceedings, it
vacated and remanded the intervention holding as well. And in
Stallworth v. Monsanto Co., 558 F.2d 257 (5th Cir. 1977), the
claims raised by the intervenors — the alteration of white em
ployees' seniority vis-a-vis each other — could not have been
anticipated as an issue until after the consent decree in that
case had been entered, especially since the plaintiffs had op
posed notification to white employees earlier in the lawsuit.
Unlike Stallworth, in this case the District Court's 1971 opinion
clearly put appellants on notice that church schools were in
cluded within the generic term "private school". The opinion
reserved constitutional issues for further determination in light
of individual schools' circumstances. This function is now pro
vided for in a 26 U.S.C. § 7428 declaratory judgment action, in
which constitutional claims can be raised, as they were in Prince
Edward School Foundation v. Commissioner, supra.
Even assuming arguendo that appellants did not know and
could not have, known of this case's potential impact upon them
until the May 5, 1980 and June 2, 1980 Orders of the District
Court, their motion to intervene, filed six months after the last
-31-
order, and almost five months after they received a questionnaire
from the IRS, as a direct result of the court's orders, was un
timely.
Unlike the appellants (proposed intervenors) in No. 80-1913,
who moved to intervene within days after the Court's June 2, 1980
order, appellants in this case took no action until six months
later. No explanation whatsoever has been given by appellants
for this delay. See, e.g., Associated Gen'l Contractors v. Secre
tary, 77 F.R.D. 31, 36-38 (C.D. Cal. 1977) (dictum). Appellants'
failure to move earlier to enter the litigation must therefore be
treated as a deliberate and calculated decision, for surely re
ceipt of the IRS questionnaire, which they assert violates their
First Amendment rights, should have prompted immediate action.
Allowing the appellants to intervene an additional six
months after they unquestionably had knowledge of the exact im
pact upon their interests of the Green litigation would cause
additional prejudice to the rights of the plaintiffs and inter
fere substantially with the orderly process of the District Court.
During that time period, the Service commenced its implementation
of the Court's order. Questionnaires identical to the one re
ceived by appellants were sent to church schools throughout Mis
sissippi and analysis of the information produced in the re
sponses by the Service was begun and is continuing at the present
time.
The additional post-judgment delay in seeking intervention
distinguishes this case from No. 81-1913 and provides even more
compelling support for the District Court's conclusion that appel
lants' motion was untimely.
B. The proposed intervenors1 interests can be fully adjudi
cated in a separate action under 26 U.S.C.§7428, which
would develop the particular facts of appellants’ particu
lar situation without the necessity of disturbing the final
judgment in this case.
While, as we discussed above, we believe that the motion to
intervene could properly be denied on the basis of untimeliness
alone, the denial of the motion in this case was particularly
appropriate because the School's interests can be protected and
the claims which it wishes to assert adjudicated in an individual
action under 26 U.S.C.S7428. It is thus unnecessary to reopen
the judgment in this long-pending case. Cf. Brumfield v. Dodd,
supra, 425 F. Supp. at 531 (post-judgment intervention in text
book aid case unnecessary since school will have opportunity for
judicial review of administrative determination of ineligibility).
All that the District Court order of May 5, 1980, requires
in relation to church schools is that the IRS obtain information
about the organization and status of the school (see Question
naire attached to App. Br. in No. 80-1913, at 47). Appellants do
not and could not reasonably contend that the mere furnishing of
such neutral information would in any way impinge upon their
freedom of reliaion. See United States v. Freedom Church,
227 '
613 F .2d 316, 320 (1st Cir. 1979). Their claimed objection to
the injunction in this case stems from the fact that the District
Court adopted the view that an all-white school established after
a desegregation order would be deemed presumptively discrimina
tory and required to show by objective means that it did not in
fact discriminate on the basis of race. Appellants assert that
22/ But see No. 80-1913 App. Br. at 38-39 1[ (f) ; 40 «] (j).
-33-
their religious mission precludes the kind of showing suggested
by the District Court. While the order of the District Court
suggests some of the types of evidence by which the presumption
could be overcome, it does not, however, direct that nondiscrim
ination can be shown only by these means. The order directs the
IRS to consider "any other similar evidence calculated to show
that the doors of the private school and all facilities and pro
grams therein are indeed open to students or teachers of both
the black and white races upon the same standard of admission or
employment" (A. 7). Appellants are therefore free to bring be
fore the IRS any and all evidence which they believe would tend
to show that the School does not discriminate on the basis
of race, despite the time of the school's foundation and its
23/
all-white enrollment.
Whether or not the school is racially discriminatory will
be determined by the IRS on the basis of all the facts before it.
If, because the school declines to answer certain questions which
it deems improper, or because its answers do not convince the IRS
that it is nondiscriminatory, and the IRS declines to accord tax-
exempt status, the school will have the opportunity, in an action
23/ The District Court's decree thus does not inexorably burden
the exercise of the School's religious mission even if one
accepts appellants' far-fetched interpretation of what the Dis
trict Court meant when it identified "active and vigorous recruit
ment programs to secure black students or teachers," "meaningful
public advertisements stressing the school's open admissions pol
icy," and "meaningful communication between the school and black
groups . . . " (A. 7 ) as evidence tending to rebut the inference
of discrimination which attaches to "Paragraph 1" schools. See
No.80-1913 App. Er. at 36-38.
-34-
under 26 U.S.C. § 7428, to assert whatever claims it has, under
the First Amendment or otherwise, as to why it should be accorded
tax-exempt status without having to make the showing suggested by
24/
the District Court.
An action under 26 U.S.C. § 7428 will have the advantage
of focusing on the particular facts relating to this school's
particular situation. Such a concentration on the facts of an
individual case is, as the district court initially held in this
case, desirable when passing on religious claims. See 330
F. Supp. at 1169. For Establishment and Free Exercise Clause
claims present delicate issues requiring close judicial scrutiny,
and careful evaluation of the facts of individual cases. They
cannot be decided on hypothetical facts, in the abstract. E .g.,
Wheeler v. Barrera, 417 U.S. 402, 426 (1974).
24/ While the merits of appellants’ claims are not before the
Court in this proceeding, it should be noted that what is at
issue here is, not the right of the school to conduct its affairs
and limit its students as it sees fit, but its right to receive
aid from the government in the form of tax exemptions even if the
school follows a policy of racial discrimination. See Green v.
Connally, supra, 330 F. Supp. at 1166; Goldsboro Christian
Schools, Inc. v. United States, 436 F. Supp. 1314, 1318-19 (E.D.
N.C. 1977). This distinguishes the case at bar from many deci
sions cited by appellants, such as Catholic Bishop v. NLRB,
559 F.2d 1112 (7th Cir. 1977), aff’d 449 U.S. 490 (1979). See
also, EEOC v. Mississippi College, discussed in text infra.
Furthermore, while "a person may not be compelled to choose
between the exercise of a First Amendment right and participation
in an otherwise available public program," Thomas v. Review Board,
49 U.S.L.W. 4341, 4344 (April 6, 1981), even if one assumed that
appellants' "religious practice is burdened by a governmental
program [denying exemptions to schools with racially discrimina
tory policies, this] does not mean that an exemption accommoda
ting [its] practice must be granted. The state may justify an
[footnote continued on next page]
-35-
Moreover, where (as here) the information requested by the
government does not directly implicate any religious activity or
practice of the institution (appellants do not assert that one
of the tenets of their religion is racial separation), the burden
that might be imposed on the institution's Free Exercise rights
is largely hypothetical, and is insufficient to bar the govern
ment's collection of data. See, e .g., EEOC v. Mississippi Col
lege, 626 F.2d 477, 486-89 (5th Cir. 1980) (application of Title
VII to pervasively secular institution affiliated with Baptist
religious organization did not violate either Establishment or
Free Exercise Clause).
The right to seek a declaratory judgment under 26 U.S.C.
§ 7428 to review an IRS denial of tax exemption to a church orga
nization existed before appellants made their motion to intervene
in this case. Intervention was thus not then, and is not now,
necessary to enable appellants to assert whatever claims they
may have that a decision to deny their tax exemption based upon
the IRS' application of the District Court's decree would violate
their First Amendment rights.
On the other hand, opening this case now would greatly de
lay the already long-deferred enforcement of plaintiffs' rights.
[continuation of footnote no. 24]
inroad on religious liberty by showing that it is the least re
strictive means of achieving some compelling state interest."
Ibid. Avoiding governmental support for racial discrimination
is clearly a compelling governmental interest. E.g., Norwood v.
Harrison, supra.
-36-
The proposed intervenors tried to come into this case only after
final judgment; they sought, not only to press their own particu
lar interest, but to open up the whole judgment, including the
25/
issue of plaintiffs' standing to bring suit. Manifestly, they
were not entitled to intervene to seek such broad relief. But
even if their application could be deemed limited to the narrower
question of whether the IRS should be directed to make a determi
nation as to the tax-exempt status of church schools, the inter
vention would go far beyond the School's particular interest and
interfere with the ability of the IRS to make determinations as
to other schools which might not contest the right of the IRS to
make a determination as to their status.
Since appellants have a full and complete remedy without
intervention, while intervention would prejudice the rights of
the plaintiffs, the motion to intervene was properly denied. The
existence of other means by which a late intervenor's rights can
be determined is an important factor, closely related to the con
cept of practical timeliness, by which the propriety of the de
nial of a motion to intervene is to be judged. See Hodgson v.
United Mine Workers, supra, 153 U.S. App. D.C. at 418, 473 F.2d
at 129-30; Brumfield v. Dodd, supra, 425 F. Supp. at 531. In
deed, in United States v. Marion County School Dist., 590 F.2d
146 (5th Cir. 1979), the court considered the relative prejudice
25/ The government moved to dismiss the action after the filing
of the plaintiffs' motion for further relief (see Statement,
supra, at 11), on the ground, inter alia, than plaintiffs lacked
standing. The motion to dismiss was denied May 25, 1977.
-37-
to the existing parties and the would-be intervenor to be a func
tion of timeliness. In NAACP v. New York, supra, 413 U.S. at
368, the Supreme Court noted, as a factor supporting the denial
of late intervention, that proposed interveners were free to at
tack, in a separate suit, the redistricting plan, rejection of
which was the main object of their proposed intervention.
Here, the grant of intervention would hamper and delay the
implementation of an order already too long delayed. Since the
proposed intervenors have a full and complete remedy if the IRS
decides that the School is not entitled to tax exemption, a rem
edy which was in existence at the time it sought to intervene
26/
here, its late motion to intervene was properly denied.
CONCLUSION
The judgment of the District Court should be affirmed.
26/ Sven if the Court should conclude that untimeliness is not
established on this record, the matter should be remanded to the
trial court for an evidentiary hearing on intervention, at which
the extent of the wide publicity given in Mississippi to the pro
ceedings in the Green case could be even more fully documented.
-38-
Respectfully submitted,
WILLIAM L. ROBINSON
NORMAN J. CHACHKIN
FRANK R. PARKER
BEATRICE ROSENBERG
LEZLI BASKERVILLE
Lawyers* Committee for
Civil Rights Under Law
733 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20005
(202) 628-6700
Attorneys for Plaintiffs-Appellees
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that, on this ___ day of April, 1981, I
served two copies of the foregoing Brief for Plaintiffs-Appellees
upon counsel for the other parties to this appeal, by depositing
same in the United States mail, first-class postage prepaid,
addressed as follows:
James Edward Ablard, Esq.
Whiteford, Hart, Carmody
and Wilson
1838 L Street, N.W.
Washington, D. C. 20036
Michael L. Paup, Esq.
Chief, Appellate Section
Tax Division
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D. C. 20530
William Bentley Ball, Esq.
511 North 2nd Street
Post Office Box 1108
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17108
APPENDIX A
APPENDIX A
Rule 24 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides,
in pertinent part:
(a) Intervention of Right. Upon timely
application anyone shall be permitted to inter
vene in an action: . . . (2) when the applicant
claims an interest relating to the property or
transaction which is the subject of the action
and he is so situated that the disposition of
the action may as a practical matter impair or
impede his ability to protect that interest,
unless the applicant's interest is adequately
represented by existing parties.
(b) Permissive Intervention. Upon timely
application anyone may be permitted to intervene
in an action: . . . (2) when an applicant's
claim or defense and the main action have a
question of law or fact in common. . . . In
exercising its discretion the court shall con
sider whether the intervention will unduly de
lay or prejudice the adjudication of the rights
of the original parties. . . .
Section 7428 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as
amended in 1976 {90 Stat. 1717) and 1978 (92 Stat. 2924) pro
vides, in pertinent part:
(a) Creation of remedy. In a case of actual
controversy involving —
(1) a determination by the Secretary —
(A) with respect to the initial
qualification or continuing quali
fication of an organization as an
organization described in section
501(c)(3) which is exempt from tax
lender section 501(a) . . . upon
the filing of an appropriate plead
ing, the United States Tax Court,
the United States Court of Claims,
or the district court of the United
States for the District of Columbia
may make a declaration with respect
to such initial qualification or
-la-
or continuing qualification . . . .
For purposes of this section, a
determination with respect to a con
tinuing qualification or continuing
classification includes any revoca
tion of or other change in a quali
fication or classification.
(b) Limitations.
{2) Exhaustion of administrative remedies.
A declaratory judgment or decree under this
section shall not^be issued in any proceed
ing unless the Tax Court, the Court of Claims,
or the district court of the United States
for the District of Columbia determines that
the organization involved has exhausted ad
ministrative remedies available to it within
the Internal Revenue Service. . . .
-2a-
APPENDIX B
Attachment 1 to 1® (ll)6G-58
News
For Reiea&a: k : 00 PM,ED"? Fri.
July 10, 1970
Internal Hevenye Service
Tsl. (202) WO 4-4021
IRS Announces Position on Private Schools
Washington, D.C. — The Internal Revenue Service announced today that
it has been concluded it can no longer legally justify allowing tax-exempt
status to private schools which practice racial discrimination nor can
it treat gift® to such schools as charitable deductions for income tax
purposes.
The Internal Revenue Service will proceed without delay to make
favorable rulings of exemption immediately available to private schools
announcing racially nondiscriminatory admissions policies and to deny
the benefit of tax-exempt status and deductibility of contributions to
racially discriminatory private schools.
The Service said that favorable rulings given to private schools in
the past will remain outstanding where the school is able to show that it
has racially nondiscriminatory admissions policies.
All private schools with favorable rulings outstanding will receive
a written inquiry from the District Director of Internal Revenue and it
is anticipated that in most instances evidence of a nondiscriminatory
policy can be supplied by reference to published statements of policy or
to the racial constituency of the student body.
Where a school fails to establish that it has a racially nondiscriminatory
admissions policy, an outstanding ruling of exemption will be withdrawn.
However, a school seeking to clarify or change its policies and practices
will be given a reasonable opportunity to do so in order to retain its
ruling of federal tax exemption. In any event, full opportunity to present
evidence and be heard will be provided in accordance with usual revenue
procedures and the right to appeal to the courts will be available. Similar
principles will be followed in acting upon requests made by new schools for
rulings.
# # #
!+:00 PM, EDT
7/ 10/70
Manual Supplement O fficial Use Only
Attachment 2 to M3 (ll)6G-58
News
?*r Sunday
July 19, 1970
m
Internal Hewenn® Sarnie#
T«l. (202) WO 4-4021
Washington, D. C. — The Internal Revenue Service today announced it has
issued favorable rulings of exemption to six private schools that have an
nounced racially nondiscriminatory admissions policies. The schools are
located in five different southern states.
The rulings were the first to be issued under the statement of position
announced by the IRS on July 10 concerning the tax status of private schools.
Other applications for exempt rulings, pending at the time of the announcement,
which meet the stated standards will be processed expeditiously, the IRS
said.
The IRS said the written inquiry on admissions policies to be sent to
all private schools that currently hold favorable tax exemption rulings is
now being developed. Inquiry letters are expected to be sent out by the 58
IRS district directors within a few weeks.
The six schools to which new favorable rulings of exemption were issued
had provided the IRS complete information that they had a racially nondiscri
minatory admissions policy announced within their respective communities.
The schools are :
Nathanael Green Academy, Inc.
Siloam, Georgia
The Heritage School, Inc.
Newnan, Georgia
The Gaffney Day School
Gaffney, South Carolina
Desoto School, Inc.
Helena, Arkansas
Southeast Education, Inc.
Dothan, Alabama
Pamlico Community School
Washington, North Carolina
(More)
Manual Supplement O fficial Use Only
Attachment 2— Cont. to MS (ll)6G-58
In response to questions it has received, the IRS also issued a more
detailed explanation of its July 10 statement of position on the tax status
of private schools. In that statement the IRS said, in the future, favorable
ru". Ings of tax exemption would be available where schools announced racially
nor iscriminatory admissions policies.
The IRS said its July 10 statement does not affect a school's ordinary
admissions policies which have no relation to race. The IRS specifically
add i that a school's ordinary academic standards will not be affected.
"he IRS explained that its July 10 statement is applicable to all pri
vate schools throughout.the United States, except as limited by the order of
a three judge Federal District Court in the District of Columbia, in
Green v. Kennedy and Thrower. That court has ordered that rulings be issued
in Mississippi only under terms and conditions approved by the court.
In its initial nationwide review'of the present status of private schools,
the [R3 said that where a school has adopted and publicly announced a racially
non iscriminatory admissions policy, it will assume, in accord with normal
procedures in requests for rulings, that such policy has been adopted and will
be maintained in good faith. If subsequent examination by an IRS field office
indicates that a school has not administered such a policy in good faith,
the tax exempt status of the school will be challenged.
The IRS also said that, should ar. existing ruling of a private school be
revoked as the result of such a challenge, persons contributing to the school
wil" be allowed to deduct contributions made prior to the date of the public
annc mcement by the IRS of the revocation. This follows the usual IRS rules
and procedures on contributions.
The IRS added that its statement of position on racially nondiscriminatory
admissions policies would be applicable to all private schools, whether
■church related or not. Selectivity of students, as by a religious seminary,
having no relation to racial discrimination would not be inconsistent with
the IRS statement of position.
- 2 -
# # #
7/19/70
Manual Supplement O fficial Use Oniy
APPENDIX C
*rr i
•i i
7 rn resp on se to the a l le g a t io n s co n ta in ed xn the
*e**dav± t o£ Rev. John W. Hunter d ated November 3 , LV/u,
& S S £ the p l a i n t i f f s , c o u c h i n g a « w hite
January 13, S e rv ic e
« £ S 5 S \ S 5 S i 5 e h = t a Pl n i e S i e » the Mayor a n i C h ief
o f VQlice o f Macon, M is s i s s ip p i and the a t r ia n c , S e v . Sunoar.
A ttached h ereto I s a memorandua d a t ^ D e « o ^ . and^the
' ^ r « l r e v e n u e A g e n . W . . ^ c h i e f .
t f S S S f mS o a s S i s - J p t W h i h 3 .2 and 3-3 r e s p e c t iv e ly ) .
3 no fu r th e r in q u iry was msda w ith r e s p e c t to ^Saxn ts
b ecau se i t was n o t mentioned xn p la_ n t—x
4 B ased upon the. fo re g o in g , and the fu r th e r xntormacxon
. L° a f f i d a v i t dated O ctober 14, 1970, wnxcn
was p rev io u s ly"** subm itt ad to t h i s c o u rt , the a f f i a n t r e a f f ir m s the
was prev iou say nQ =easotl to b e l ie v e the the p o lic y
^ n o n d iL r im in a t io n adopted and announced by th e a b o v e -sta te d
in s t i t u t io n s was n o t adopted o r wxIL n ot b e j i d n x n x s ^
, k a th e r e fo r e , a f f i a n t h as raarrxrm ed XwS catem ~n a
?°°on t S t L d d S n c e a ssu ran ce o f d e d u c t ib i l i ty o f conCrtoutxons
i d e ~ ^ t h e a b o v e -sta te d in s t i tu t io n s , should n o t oe suspended
b i t should b e approved su b je c t to a thorougn r x e la exam ination
* 5 1 h?S_l ~t -ad e by r e o r e s e n ta t iv e s o f the In cem ax Revenue
s S S c l i t s L f I L / d u r i n g th e co u rse o f IS ten th s a s s t a te d
in th e a f f i d a v i t o f O ctober L4> 1 9 /0 .
5 D uring th e c o u rse of. th e in q u ir y _by th e In te rn a l
* _ . _ above in form ation came to x ts
^ S o ^ S % S : ; f a” i r . Che p l a i n r i f f a | i f f i f h v i -
w K f S s q d , u * S= ion a re q u ir in g
co th e Deer Creel-c E ducationax In s tx tu te i- e l a c e „ . < R e v e .
s e r v ic e is- co n tin u in g i t s xaquxry o t -h_s m atte r -ud - t
d e c is io n w ith r e sp e c t to the continuance Oi tne acvance ^ssuranc
c f d e d u c t ib i l i ty f o r t h i s schooL w i l l depend upon the r e s e t s
o f t h i s in q u iry .
Subsecuent to the dace of the affidavit of October6. Subsequent: co. tne ux
1970 the Internal Revenue.Service, through xts o3 o^*ea» 0 .
Dist^ct U1 rectors, has mailed letters to approximately o,0C0
or* vac e schools within the United States which had pravxou^-y
received favorable rulings of tax exemption. The sT<tl
each school to state whether or not xts policies or a^ss.on^
are. discriminatory or nondiscrxmxnatory ar.d -z e - -
submit evidence showing that the polxcy x » ^ - ~
It is estimaced that there are, in addxtxon, more chan 10,000
private schools which are covered by group rulings, as trou^.
m S c -iven to a church covering all of Che churcn-cwr.ee
I r S a S scSIs. Similar information is being obtained as co
the admissions policies of such schools. The advance^su^..
of deduccibilicy provided by chese cavorable^r^-, ,
withdrawn for any school raxlxng co saCxsfy .he .eq.---- an.
chat it adopt and administer in good faith a nondiscrininatory
admissions policy. The ancire thrust of the policy is to taka
recognition of charitable status dependant, among other
circumstances, upon, availability of the educational offering
to all students without regard to race. This policy will
be fully and fairly implemented throughout all parts of the
country.
oC„..y -**•V
S/CSDOtPH W. THROWER
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Subscribed and sworn, to
before me this LOch day of December 1970
Notary Public,, District of Columbia
‘̂wnrasslojr April: 14. 197?
I
APPENDIX D
'AV
1 L € o 7
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
WILLIAM H. GREEN, at al-, )
)
Plaintiffs, )
) CIVIL ACTION NO.
V. ) 1355-69
) Judge Waddy
JOHN 3. CONNALLI, et al.. }
))Defendants.
>
MOTION FOR AN ORDER SUBSTITUTING
PARTIES DEFENDANT, TO ENFORCE DECREE
AND FOR FURTHER DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE REIIEF_
Plaintiffs move the Court, pursuant to Rule 25(d)(i), Fed.
R.Civ.P., to enter an order substituting William Simon and
Donald C. Alexander, for the previously named defendants herein.
Plaintiffs additionally move the Court, pursuant to 28 U.S.C.
§§2201 and 2202 and Rules 54(c) and 65(d), Fed.R.Civ.P., for
an order enforcing the prior judgment herein and ror further re
lief, as specified in the prayer to this motion. In support of
this motion, plaintiffs show as follows:
1. Plaintiffs, black taxpayers and their minor children
attending Mississippi public schools, commenced this c^ass action
by complaint filed May 21, 1969 seeking declaratory and injunc
tive relief against the Secretary of the Treasury and the Com
missioner of Internal Revenue with respect to granting tax-exempt
status to racially discriminatory private schools in Mississippi.
2. By opinion and order en-ered January 12, 1970, the
three-judge Court preliminarily enjoined the Secretary and the
Commissioner from according tax-exempt status to any Mississippi
private school that "is . . . a part of a system of private
0
- 2 -
schools operated on a racially segregated basis as an alterna
tive to white students seeking to avoid desegregated public
schools." Green v. Kennedy, 309 F. Supp. 1127, 1140 (D.D.C.
1970), appeal dismissed sub nom. Cannon v. Green, 398 U.S.
956 (1970), appeal from subsequent orders dismissed sub nom.
Coit v. Green, 400 U.S. 986 (1971) .
3. On June 30, 1971, the three-judge Court entered a deci
sion on the merits and an order; (1) declaring that tax exemptions
for, and deductions for contributions to, racially discriminatory
educational organizations are impermissible under §§501 (c) (3)
and 170(a)-(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, and (2}
permanently enjoining the Secretary and the Commissioner to ad
here to specified procedures designed to ensure that tax-exempt
status would not be accorded to such racially discriminatory
educational organizations and that tax-exempt status previously
accorded such, organizations would be terminated. Green v.
Connally, 330 F. Supp. 1150, 1179-80 (D.D.C.), aff'd sub nom.
1/Coit v. Green, 404 U.S. 997 (1971). With respect to nine
specific Mississippi private schools which IRS had accorded tax-
exempt status, the Court declined to grant injunctive relief be
cause of the sworn assurances of the Commissioner, which the
Court-received “as a good faith representation that will be
honored,“ that the IRS would conduct audit examinations of these
nine schools within IS months of October 14, 1970 and, as to
such schools, would “take into consideration ail factors raised
in the present litigation as well as any material matters raised
i/ Subsequent developments in the law of three-judge courts in
dicate that this Court's nonconstitutional decision and order of June 30, 1971 should have been made and sneered by a single judge.
See Hagans v . Lavine, 415 U.S. 52S, 543-45 (1974); PhiIbrook v.
Glodgett, 421 U.S. 707, 712-13 n. 8 (1975),
~ aid*'
'* < '*
'
S'
' A
: ~>J
. - :
. - . C- • :■■■■'•:■ a
i.T,'. ■ .
- 3
in the future." See 330 F. Supp. at 1176 n. 53 and accompany
ing text; October 14, 1970 Affidavit cf Randolph W. Thrower,
<t 11. The nine schools subject to this commitment were the
following (Thrower Affidavit, 7):
Central Holmes Academy
Copiah Educational Foundation
Deer Creek Education Institution
Indianola Educational Foundation
Lula-Rich Educational Foundation
North Delta Schools
Noxubee Educational Foundation
Quitman County Educational Foundation
Saints Industrial Sr Literary School
4. On June 25, 1973 the Supreme Court decided Norwood v.
Harrison, 413 O.S* 455 (1973), holding that Mississippi-owned
textbooks could not constitutionally be loaned no racially dis
criminatory private schools. On remand from the Supreme Court,
Chief District Judge Ready established a certification proce
dure and engaged in a school-by-school examination to determine
whether each Mississippi private school was a racially discrim
inatory institution and thereby ineligible fcr state-loaned
textbooks. Norwood v. Harrison, 382 F. Supp. 921 (M.D, Miss.
1974).
5. Pursuant to the certification procedure ar.d school-by
school examination conducted in Norwood, counsel for plamtrfrs
learned that a number of racially discriminatory private schools
in Mississippi, including some of the nine schools referred to
in 1 3 above, had been accorded tax-exempt status, or had not
had their tax exemptions revoked, by IRS. By letters dated
March 11, 1974 and July 17, 1974 (Exhibits 1 and 2, respectively,
hereto) counsel for plaintiffs brought these matters to defen
dants' attention, as did counsel for the Norwood plaintiffs by
letter dated April 19, 1974 (Exhibit 3 hereto). Plaintiffs'
counsel identified the following 12 private schools as having
4 -
tax-exempt status notwithstanding the Norwood determination
that the/ were ineligible for state-loaned textbooks:
Columbia Academy
Copiah Educational Foundation, Inc.
Deer Creek Educational Institute, Inc.
Clinton Educational Foundation, Inc.
Marshall. County Educational Founda
tion, Inc.
Eucedale Education Foundation, Inc.
Lula-Rich Educational Foundation, Inc.
Indianola Educational Foundation, Inc.
Hillcrest (Baptist) Academy
West Panola Schools, Ino.
North Delta School, Inc.
Quitman County Educational Founda
tion, Inc. {County Day School)
Six of these schools axe among the nine schools subject to IRS'
1370 commitment to audit within 13 months and to re-examine in
response to future information (see f 3 above). Defendants re
plied to counsel for plaintiffs herein by pro forma latter
dated August 16. 1974, stating: "While we cannot reveal spe
cific actions concerning the individual schools involved, we
assure you that your information is being considered.” (Ex
hibit 4 hereto.)
6. During this time plaintiffs' counsel also, by letter
dared April 15, 1974 (Exhibit 5 hereto), requested a meeting
with defendants and their representatives for the purpose of
attempting to work out a mutually agreeable procedure, without
further formal proceedings herein, for implementing this Court's
1971 decree- in light of the developments in Norwood. Defendants
responded affirmatively by letter of May 17, 1974 (Exhibit 6
hereto), indicating that they were looking into these matters
and were re-examining their practices in light of Norwood.
7. In June 1974 counsel for plaintiffs herein and counsel
for the Norwood plaintiffs met with representatives of the Civil
Rights Division of the Department of Justice for the purpose
of recommending appropriate standards to govern tax-exemptions
and tax-deductibility determinations vis-a-vis private schools.
3. On December 13, 1974- plaintiffs' counsel again met
with; IHS- and Civil. Rights. Division representatives to request,
among other things, that defendants promptly- terminate the tax-
exempt status of the previously-identified Mississippi private
schools which the Norwood court had judicially determined to be
ineligible for state-loaned textbooks. Defendants responded,
inter alia, by stating- that they were devising a new Revenue Pro
cedure to deal with the problem on a nationwide basis, and that,
notwithstanding this Court's decree, they did not wish to t3ke
any action against Mississippi private schools until the new pro
cedure was finalized. (New regulations were finally issued on
November IS, 1975, 40 Fed. Reg. 53409.)
9. Between December 1974 and January 1976 plaintiffs re
ceived no information indicating what action, if any, defendants
had taken with respect to the Mississippi private schools in
question. 3y letter dated January 21, 1975 (Exhibit 7 hereto),
plaintiffs' counsel requested to be informed of defendants' ac
tion on plaintiffs' numerous prior requests. By letter of Feb
ruary 6, 1975 (Exhibit 3 hereto), defendants responded, stating
that one of the subject schools had failed to establish tax-exempt
status, that one school had ceased operations, that one school
did not exist according to- defendants' records, and that or.e
school continued to enjoy tax-exempt status. As to six other
schools, including some of the nine schools referred to in H 3
above, defendants stated that such schools had been ’’contacted."
Moreover, and notwithstanding this Court's decree, defendants
stated: "The suspension of advance assurance issue is presently
before the National Office of the Service." (Plaintiffs have
heard nothing further, and have received no additional information,
from defendants.)
' . ' . - 5 - ' '
It). Defendants have-treated "both the letter and the'spirit
of this Court's 1971 decree with contempt. They have appar
ently not even lived up to their sworn commitment to this
Court, to investigate nine specific Mississippi private schools
(see f 3, supra); and their new regulations are not adequate
tc comply with the law of this case. Defendants have, in short,
substituted their will, their (judgment and their preferences
for the binding judgment of this Court. The need for a specific
detailed permanent injunction is apparent.
IX. The need for further relief is also apparent. The
inadequacy of the present decree and the procedures being em
ployed by IRS is illustrated by defendant's treatment of the
County Day School (Quitman County educational Foundation, Inc.)
which has been and continues to be tax exempt. This is one of
the nine schools subject to defendants' 1970 commitment (If 3,
supra), and it is one of the 12 schools about which plaintiffs
have Complained to defendants'over the-past two years., Not
withstanding the tax-exempt status accorded this school by IRS,
the Norwood Court determined it to be ineligible for scate-
loaned textbooks (see 382 F. Supp. at 923-29). The Norwood
court found (id. at 929):
In this case, where it appears that an open
admissions policy was obviously stated per
functorily, at isolated intervals, and only
to obtain tax advantages, we are unconvinced
that the school has a position other than one
taken to procure the benefits but without
sacrificing the goal of white segegated edu
cation .
The prior decree of this Court must thus be broadened as it has
proved inadequate to accomplish the broad purpose of prohibit
ing tax exemptions to racially discriminatory educational or
ganizations.
WHEREFORE, for the- foregoing reasons, plaintiffs
this Court to set this matter for hearing at the Cour
pray
t's early
convenience and, upon, such hearing, to:
(a) Enter' an order substituting William Simon and Donald
C. Alexander as: defendants he rein-r
(b) Enter a supplemental declarator*/ judgment pursuant to
23 U.S.C. §§2201 and 2202 that defendants are bound by adversary
judicial and administrative determinations with respect to the
racial policies and practices of Mississippi educational organiza
tions which have or which seek tax-exempt status pursuant to
§§501(0(3} and 170(a)-(c) of the Internal Revenue Code;
(c) Enter a detailed, permanent decree (with the derails
to be determined upon the hearing of this motion), modifying
and superseding the Court's prior decree, enjoining defendants
from according tax-exempt status to, and from continuing the
tax-exempt status now enjoyed by, all Mississippi private
schools or the' organizations which operate -.hem, which:
(1) have been determined in adversary judi
cial or administrative proceedings to be
racially discriminatory; or
(2) which have insubstantial minority enroll
ments, which are located in or serve desegre
gating public school districts, and which
either (i) were established or expanded at or
about the time the public school districts in
which they are located or which they serve
were desegregating, or (ii} cannot demonstrate
that they do not provide racially segregated
educational opportunities for white children
avoiding attendance in desegregating public
school systems.
• ***ŵ.- -̂-►•iSrV- >-•,.• ~-r .* fev*‘ v.
•.*r
“• -*«*
•>•' :v>,* <fi. •.'
. • ' 3' -
(d) Enter an order requiring defendants' to
conduct forthwith a survey of all Mississippi
private schools, obtaining information similar
to that required by the certification proce
dures in Norwood (see 382 F. Supp. at 935-33),
and. further requiring defendants to make
quarterly reports to the Court and to plaintiffs
specifying the steps taken to implement the in
junctive decree requested herein.
(a) Award plaintiffs their costs of this en
tire cause, including out-of-pocket expenses
and reasonable attorneys' fees, pursuant to
20 U.S.C. §1617;
* ' . '/I
\
SS
(f) Grant plaintiffs such other and further re
lief as may be just and proper.
Respectfully submitted,
' £
r
FRANK R. PARKER
Jackson Lawyers' -Committee for
Civil Rights Under Law
233 North Farish Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
ROBERT A. MURPHY
WILLIAM S. CALDWELL
NORMAN J. CHACHKIN
Lawyers' Committee for Civil
Under Law
Suite 320, 733 15th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 200Q5
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
Dated: July ^3, 1976.
«
i'f i \1
!. a ’ v v v . *-■ c c .v • ; i v r »•; r
J O ;! C i V ’ ’ . it I n V S l*N t > C i * . A A vV
F A R'l r H" JACKSON, M;SS!SStPP! PHONE ''CM) 5
Maxell 11,- 3.5 74
Mr, Donald Alexander
Commissloner of Internal Revenue
n. ", Internal Revenue Service
Washington, D. C, 20224
Re; Encore s merit of Injunction, Green
330
U. S
F- Supo.
997. ' C j \ r
150
i
:d .d .c . is*?:
v. Connally,
affd, 40 4̂
re ar .Alexander:
T am writing to call vour attention to recent developments
Norwood v, Harrison, 37 L.Ed.2d 723 (1973), on remand, Civil No.
W c T c P I T M i s s , (Ready, J.) , the case holding that the
,o students
Inese recentState of Mississippi may net loan public ,_s.,ttooks
attending racially*discriminatory private .schools.
developments require the Internal Revenue Service to revere ana
terminate the tax exempt status of private schools in Mississippi
previous!’/ recognized as exempt, and to disallow deductions ror
contributions to such schools.
In Norwood the Supreme Court ordered that rtificati
procedure t
Mississippi
= established to determine the eligibility of
private schools for state supplied textoooxs,
Drocecurs be subjectrulings under h is •>, i *;.shed byestablished that
judicial review. The standards of eligibility escana
Supreme Court w e r e made with full knowledge of the
established by the court in Green, and indeed are similar tc ■:
Green standards. Hence it follows that if a school has been
determined, to be ineligible for texrbcoks uncer Notwocd, i_rien
application of tlie same standards it should pc inexig-i—>ls -oi
tax benefits under Green.
After Chief U. S. District Judge William C. Keadg
tlie certification criteria in Norwood on ram,and, a numbe:
' '* * ' apply for certifi
es tabl:
of
Mississippi private schools failed - a +- -.on
ledunder the non-discriminatory standards -and/or return
supplied textbooks in their possession. Such action amounts
a concession that they do net have a non-discriminaucry acirms
policy and than they would fail to meet certification standar
ate
to
D V IRS butSchools which are still recognized as tax exempt
which in effect have conceded discrimination in Norwood ai
EXHIBIT 1
-^ol-
Commissioner of'Tnternal Revenue
Page 2
March 11, 1974 *.
Columbia Academy .{did-not apply for certification)
R. 0. Box 1S9
Columbia, Ms. 39429
Copiah Educational Foundation, Inc. (returned books)
317 Gallatin Street
Hazelhurst, Ms. 390 83
Deer Creeic Educational Institute, Inc. (returned books)
Hollandale, Ms. 38 748
Educational Foundation, Inc., of Clinton (did not apply)
106 East Cynthia Road
Clinton, Ms. 39205
Educational Foundation, Inc., of Marshall County (did not
Holly Springs, 14s. 38635
Education Foundation, Inc., of Lucsdale (did not apply)
?. 0. Box 65
Lucedale, Ms. 39452
Lula Rich Educational Foundation, Inc. (returned-books)
(Lula Rich Academy)
P. 0. Box 338
Lula, Ms. 38644
Accordingly, the eligibility of these institutions to rece
tax deductible contributions should be immediately suspenaed, a
their exempt status revoked.
In other instances, certain schools applied for csrtitxcat
to receive state textbooks, but after objections_were filed by
counsel for the plaintiffs, in effect conceded discrimination a
an order was entered by Judge Ready vacating their certificatio
and ordering them to return their state textbooks. A copy of
Judge Ready's Order of March 1, 1974 is enclosed. These school
are :
Indianola Educational Foundation, Inc. (presently reccgniz
305 East Gresham Street as tax exempt)
Indianola, . Ms . 38751
Hillcrest (Baptist) Academy (presently recognized as tax
Route 1 exempt under the umbrella exe
Senatobia, Ms. tion of the Baptist Church)
West Panola Schools, Inc. (application for fax exempt stat
Box 713 c u r r e n t l y pending' before IRS)
Batesville, Ms. 38606
Mr. Donald Ale-Jnder J
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
Page 3 . •• •••-; : • ......
March 11, 19 74' f . . . .
Ready, March, 4, 1974
additional ..
voted, to "
William E.""Cotr, 'Jr."," attorney
to District Judge William C.
(copy enclosed). This school is:
.1 iAftari' a'. hearing^pn-oleihtidfe 1 objections
school.^,currently, .recognised by IR§, as. tax .exempt.,,
return ’its textbooks, letter from
for the North Delta School, Inc.,
North Delta School, Inc.?. 0. BOX D
Crenshaw, Ms. 38621 -
Accordingly, the eligibility of these four_schools to
receive tax deductible contributions should be immediately suspended,
and their tax exempt status revoked.
One school, which currently is recognised as tax exempt,
has 'been certified, but its eligibility has been objected to
and a contest to its eligibility currently is pending before
Judge Ready. This school is:
Quitman County Educational Foundation, Inc.
P. 0. Box 56
Marks, Mississippi 33646
This corporation operates the "County Day School" in Marks,
Mississippi', and was one of the original segregation academies
in the state, hading, opened'its'doors simultaneously. with the
desegregation of the Quitman County public schools. Tne County
Day School was cited as a segregationist academy by the District
Court in Coffey v. State Educational Finance Ccrom'r.., 296 _F. Supp,
1339 , 1392 (S. D. Miss. 1969). Its founders have been aligned v/ i -
and attended meetinas sponsored by, the Citizens Council, a whiti
segregationist organization. All students, faculty
ana beard members are, and have been since
nemhers ,
inception,founder,white, I understand, that forms filed with the IRS omit to indicate
whether the S'chool has ever formally adopted a written open
admissions policy (see Question 15(a) of Certification and Background
Information Form and attachments thereto).
Pending Judge Ready's ruling, the eligibility of the Quitman
County Educational Foundation, Inc., to receive tax deductible
contributions should be suspended. I will notify you of Judge
Ready's ruling when it comes down.
As counsel for the plaintiffs in Green,
the procedures of IRS for ruling on the tax
private schools in Mississippi appear to be
more lax than the judicial standards applied
Court for the Northern District of Mississip
I am concerned that
exempt status of
more permissive and
by the U. 3. Distri
pi. The evidence in
t
Norwood suggests that schools have been certified by IRS as
eligible for tax exempt status and tax deductible contributions on
~ l i d -
Mr. Donald Alexander
Commissioner of Internal' Revenue
Page - 4 ...
March 11/ 1974 .
the basis of professed open admissions policies when i-n fact
they have been formed and operate as racially segregated
institutions designed to provide an alternative to public
integrated education. These tax exempt schools in effect
have admitted their true colors when they voluntarily have
returned their state textbooks and do not contest objections
to their certification to receive such textbooks.
Given these developments, I request that IRS review its
certification and auditing procedures and make such changes
are necessary no tighten its standards. Perhaps a public
adversary administrative hearing, in which the private school
the^burden of proof, and with notice permitting public partic
tion or judicial review of IRS decisions f may be required to
close this present tax loophole._
as
nas
ipa-
As to those tax exempt schools which virtually have admitted
discrimination in Norwood, you may want to determine whether
criminal prosecutions are warranted.
Since these matters may involve the continuing jurisdiction
of the District Court in Green regarding enforcement of its
decree, I would appreciate a response from you to this additional
information, indicating what action you have taken with regard to
each of these identified segregated private schools, and what
changes in your procedures you have adopted to insure that
private schools which profess a ncn-discriminatory policy but^
which are in fact discriminatory do not receive the tax benefits
which have been granted, but to which they are not in fact
entitled under the Green decision.
Than2< you very much for your consideration of my requests
Yours vary truly,
-------
Frank R. Parker
FRP:1jh
Enclosures
cc; Melvyn R. Leventhal, Esq.
Clerk, U.S. District Court for the
District of Columbia
Assistant A.ttcrney General, Tax Division,
U.S. Department of Justice
Staff Director, U.S. Commission on Civil Rights
7
• W J L U A M S , ‘C O R R . . J R .
GCORCSE C. CAfitSON. JR.* •'
CCRR AND CARLSON-
A T T O R N E Y S A T L A W
p. b. sox Asa
SAROlS. NciSStSSIPRt 3 3 3 6 6
. 3*RO'» (604 > _,4B7.2t2t. ‘
QATESVtU-ir *.CO:> ?« 3 -3 3 U
• Mar «»» V> •
V i*
*T » 1974
(Dictatad March
f.Mj
Jh!
ii.rii * i. b lA -» /iw/4
L A T A C . U G H T 5 E Y
3*SC«CTAPY
£
I
I
Judge William C. Kaady United States District Court
P. 0. Drawer 190 Greenville, Mississippi 38701
'Re: Norwood vs. Harrison
No. WC 70-53-K
Dear Judge Keady:
The Board of Directors of North Delta School, Inc.
met this morning and unanimously voted to return to the
State of Mississippi all State owned textbooks presently in the possession of the .school and children attending the school. Arrangements have been made with the Superintendent of Education of Panola County to return the State
owned books Wednesday, March 6, 1974. A copy of the text
book Inventory of the return books will be-filed with .the
clerk of the Court in Oxford and copies mailed to you and
Mr. Leventhal.
I appreciate the courtesies extended to me and my
clients by you, the Court officials and by Mr. Leventhal.
Very truly yours,
—r. u
William E. Corr, Jr.
WEC:mtf
cc: Mr. Melvyn Leventhal'/Mr. Bill S1ssel1 - County Superintendent of Education
Mr. Lawrence Meeks Mr. Otis Jenkins
Mr. Bill Alla1n
l
I 13d
IN' .'mE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF MISSISSIPPI
WESTERN DIVISION
DELORES NORWOOD, ET AL, Plaintiffs
V.
D. L. HARRISON, SR., ET AL, Defendants
NO. WC 7Q-53-K
ORDER
It appearing that Indianola Academy, Hillcrest Academy
and West Panola Schools, Inc., three of the private schools
against whom plaintiffs have filed objections as to eligibility
for the receipt of free state-owned textbooks, have represented
that they do not desire to contest the appeals and are deliver
ing to the state all state-owned textbooks in their possession
or under their control; it is
ORDERED
That the certification of eligibility heretofore granted
by the Mississippi Textbook Purchasing Board be set aside and
rescinded and the state—owned textbooks in the possession or
under the control of the three said schools be, not la^er u.ian
March 8, 1974, delivered to agents,of said Board.
This, 1st day of March, 1974.
o * Y'A i f\\
' J ‘\ / \
\__ jl/jJi
r-— <■ j!
L. ____>
|:
L A W Y E R S ’ C O MMI T T E EFOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW
1 3 3 N O R T H P A R I S H S T R E E T J A C K S O N , M I S S I S S i P R l 3 9 2 0 1 E ( S O I ) 9 4 3 - 0 * 0 0
July 17, 1974
Honorable Donald C. Alexander
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
U. S. Internal Revenue Service
Washington, D. C. 20224
Re: Green v. Connally
Dear Mr. Alexander
I am writing to follow up my letter to you of March 11,
1974, regarding the IRS enforcement of the injunction entered
in Green v. Connally, and to inform you of subsequent de
velopments in Norwood v» Harrison^, the Mississ,
joining state textbook assistance to
schools.
_ppi case en-
segregated private
District Judge William C. Ready on July 12, 19/4, issued
his ruling in Norwood and specifically found that four private
schools in Mississippi, the Svlva Bay Academy (formerly Sylva-
rena Academy), Bay Springs, Jasper County, Mississippi, the
West Tallahatchie Academy, Tutwiler, Tallanatchie County,
Mississippi, South Haven Mennonite School, Prairie iroint?
Noxubee County, Macon, Mississippi, and the Quitman County_
Educational Foundation (County Day School), Marks, Mississippi,
were racially segregated private schools with racially discrim
inatory admissions policies formed to perpetuate white, segre
gated education. Of these four, the Quitman County Educational
Foundation currently has tax exempt status. However, the_South
Haven Mennonite School indicated in its textbook application
form that it is in the process of being included within the
umbrella exemption provided the Church of God in Christ Men
nonite Church (Opinion, Exhibit "3", p. 1).
EXHIBIT 2
- \ s
)
Honorable Donald. C. Alexander-.., .... . ■ . : -
July 17, '■ 19-74. : ‘ ‘ •
Page 2 • •
•Judge Ready- noted 'that the fact that the Quitman County
Educational Foundation had been certified by IRS as eligible
for tax benefits was not determinative cf the question of its
admissions policy, holding:
"Recognition by Internal Revenue Service that a school
is entitled to tax exempt status and its donors may
have their gifts deducted for income tax purposes is,
of course, some indication that a school has an open
admissions policy, but it is not alone determinative.
In this case, where it appears that an open admissions
policy was obviously stated perfunctorily, at isolated
intervals, and only to obtain tax advantages, we are
unconvinced that the school has a position other than
one taken to procure tax benefits but without sacri
ficing the goal of white, segregated education. We
conclude that the absence of substantial, convincing
evidence presented by the Quitman County Educational
Foundation to offset its history of segregation re
quires us to hold that it fails to qualify for state
textbooks." (Opinion, p. 14)
cational
iudicial determination that the Quitman County Edu
cation continues to pursue the goal of white,j’ou
: other schools
:o receive stats
segregated education, plus the failure cf fc
to challenge objections to their eligibility
textbooks Undianoia Academy, a/k/a Indiancla Educational
Foundation, Inc.; Hillcrest Academy; West Panola School; and
North Delta School) (Norwood Opinion, p. 28) clearly raises
"serious doubt concerning the continued qualification of
[these organisations] to receive deductible contributions,"
which should require IRS to suspend the advance assurance cf de
ductibility of contributions to these five schools pursuant to
Rev. Proc. 68-17, Sec. 4.05.
I have been informed that .IRS is currently reviewing its
policies and procedures relative to its enforcement of its
policy to deny tax exempt status and deductibility of contri
butions to schools with discriminatory admissions policies.
However,- the clear evidence of the discriminatory admissions
policies of these five schools provided in the July 12 Norwood
decision indicates at least that suspension of advance as
surance of deductibility of contributions regarding these five
schools need not await this policy review, but should be
!-j. a
,
• Ho no r ab le; ■ Do n ai d- C«:.. Alexander,
uly. 17 > 19.74'.
age 3'.
- ef fect^ated''”i'STme;diate-ly 'to •Impl'ement'presently existing - '■ ■
policies and to insure the rights of the Green v. Connally
plaintiff class. In Mississippi, many schools begin their
school year in August, -and it is important that immediate _
action be taken prior to the opening of these schools to^in
sure that whatever action IRS may ultimately take regarding
the eligibility of these schools will be effective.
I am enclosing copies of the decision and order recently
handed down in the Nonfood case.
Please inform me at your earliest convenience or IRS
action taken with regard to these five schools. I hope to
receive a response from you within 30 days.
Again, thank you for your early consideration of and
attention to this urgent matter.
Yours very truly,
■ Frank R. Parker
FRP:eg
cc: Melvyn R. Leventhal, Esquire
Assistant Attorney General,_Tax Division,
U. S. Department of Justice
Brian Landsberg, Section Chier, education
Section, Civil Rights Division, U.S.
Department of Justice
J. Harold Flannery, Director
Lawyers' Committee for-Civil Rights
Under Law
« ur
A n o e r s o n , Ba n k s , N i c h o l s & l e v e n t h a l
A tto rn e y s a t L a w
S 3 8 V« NORTH FAR1SH STREET
JACKSON. MlSStBBIRRI 3 9 2 0 2
REUBEN V. ANDERSON
FRED U BANKS, JR .
JO HN A. NICHOLS
MELVYN R. LEVENTHAL
NAUSEAS STEWART
April 19, 1974
post arrtce drawer 29a
AREA CODE 601 9-4.0-7301
Mr. Donald Alexander
Goinmisiiontr of Internal Revenue
United States Internal Revenue
Service
Washington, D. G. 20224
B.P! Green v. Conallv & Norwood v. Harrison,
37 r o m T & m
Tax exemption for Mississippi
segregationist academies
Dear Mr. Alexander:
I have Mr. Flannery's letter to you of April 15, 1974.
Perspective on the question before us (the_adequacy^of_pres
ent certification and auditing standards) is best ootained
through an examination of the Indianola Academy. I enclose:
1. a copy of the certification and background in
formation form completed by the Academy in_response to Judge
Ready's order on remand In Norwood v. Harrison. It demon-
strates that the school is all white both as ̂ uo students and
faculty, and was formed and enlarged at^critical^moments in
the history of public school desegregation in̂ Indianola.
This form was filed with the Mississippi Textbook Board and
the Academy certified as eligible for textbook assistance.
Thereafter, I filed in the district court, in behalf or plain
tiffs, a motion to deny textbook assistance. Upon the filing
of objections the Indianola Academy withdrew Its' request for
textbook assistance and returned its inventory to state de
positories.
2. A copy of page 18 of my Norwood brief in the
Supreme Court. This excerpt provides a capsule history of
desegregation events in Indianola and the role of the Academ\
in frustrating public school desegregation.
Notwithstanding the overwhelming evidence that the Indianola
Academy is a segregationist institution your agency has de
termined to approve it for tax-exempt status. This has been
EXHIBIT 3
Mr ̂ D o n a ld -Alexander- .. - v ; .
' April 19, 1974, V . '
•. • Page 2 -' .
C''-r •• . - ’•
done notwithstanding the clear language of Green establish
ing a "badge of doubt" for Mississippi academxes.formed in
the wake of public school desegregation. Under the Green
order your agency is required to examine the racial composi
tion of an academy's student body, applicants for admission
and faculty and administrative staff which information was
found by the Court to be "material in order for the Service
to be in an effective position to determine whether the
school has actually established a policy of nondiscrimina
tion," Green v. Connally, 300 F. Supp. 1150, 1180. It ap
pears that your agency has given such statistical informa
tion little weight and has relied instead upon the mere
adoption of an open admissions policy and its routine pub
lication in a local newspaper.
I remind you that the Indianola Academy is but one example
in a category of schools approved by your agency and is re
viewed above to illuminate the issues not exhaust the sub
ject.
I look forward to discussions with.you and representatives
of the Green plaintiffs.- . •
MRL:msc■
Enclosures
cc: J. Harold Flannery, Esquire
J. Stanley Pottinger, Esquire
Brian K. Landsberg, Esquire
Frank R. Parker, Esquire
f'P.S. Of course, the Indianola Academy is a member of t..<=
Mississippi Private School Association and the Academy
Athletic Conference. Not a single black person is involved
in any activity or program of these organizations.
In addition, on August 20,, 1970, an article in the local
newspaper,of Indianola informed us that the Indianoia
Academy football team "would climax their 1970 football
schedule in a post season game. . . with the [injfamous
Prince Edward Academy of Farmville, Virginia." The Academy
principal was then quoted as follows:
- -
Mr. Donald Alexander
.Page 3
Very close ties exist between these two schools
and this event should be the highlight of our
athletic year.
Several local citizens visited Farmville prior
to the founding of the Academy to observe their
operation and to secure information the
Virginians had gained from their experience in
building a school. These contacts have been
kept and there have been several exchange visit
f
-
18
rollments of 597 and 426 white students respectively-
tually the entire white student population of the
100I district. (Henderson Deposition, Exhibit 9; Chart,
terdependence of Public School Desegregation and
rrmation and Growth of Private Academies; Nowell
jposition, pp. 5-6; Home Deposition, p. 5.) The Amite
>unty Private School houses grade one in the local
ormon Church, grades two and three in the Methodist
d Presbyterian Churches, grades four and five in the
)ld Baptist Parsonage,” and grades seven through 12 in
e Baptist Church.
5. lndianola Municipal Separate School District
lndianola Academy, serving grades 1-2 and enrolling 79
ipils, opened in September, 1965 concurrently with
tegration of grades 1-4 of the public schools under
eedom of choice. As additional grades of the public
hools were desegregated the academy added grades to
5 curriculum and students to its rolls so that by
;ptember, 1969, it housed 578 students in grades 1-12.
During the first semester of the 1969-70 school year
ie public school district enrolled 991 white students,
owever, in February, 1970, the district was required to
iplement a terminal plan of pupil assignment pursuant
> Green and Alexander; and at that precise moment all
hite students and 30 white teachers of the district
ithdrew to the security of the segregated lndianola
cademy Accordingly, the lndianola Academy s enroll-
ient surged from 578 white students in December, 1969
> 1,504 such students by February 9, 1970, (Cain
eposition, pp. 5. 9; Floyd Deposition, p. 13; Henderson
eposition, Exhibit 9; Chart, Interdependence of Public
chool D e s e g r e g a t i o n and the Growth of Private
cademics.)
✓
19
6. Grenada Municipal Separate School District
The failure of HEW to obtain voluntary desegregation
of the Grenada public schools during the 1965-66 and
1966-67 school year resulted in the termination of all
federal financial support for this district as of September
22, 1966. However, a court order was subsequently
entered requiring freedom of choice desegregation for
grades 1-12 effective September, 1967. Enter the Kirk
Academy, in September, 1967, serving grades 1-12 and
enrolling 133 students. This academy grew to an enroll
ment of 412 white students by September of 1969, to
511 by February of 1970, and to 639 by September,
1970. ***"
Effective March 1, 1970, the public school district was —
required to implement a terminal plan of pupil j
assignment. On the same day a second private academy,
Grenada Lake Academy, opened in an abandoned public
school building for 180 white students formerly enrolled
in Grenada public schools. (Jaudon Deposition, pp. 3, 5.)
The histories reviewed above are not exceptional. The
pattern-public school desegregation followed by the
withdrawal of a substantial number of white students to
private academies and the resegregation of public
schools-was repeated in school district after school
district throughout the state.
HI.
T H E S T A T E ’ S T E X T B O O K P R O G R A M
A. The Program Generally
Sections 6634-6659.5 of the Miss. Code of 1942
(Appendix B, Jurisdictional Statement) provide the
framework for the selection, purchase and distribution of
.................„
....
. . .,.„.
..
.
...
.
— .jl
•- 4
EXHIBIT "A"-
MISSISSIPPI TEXT300K PURCHASIWG BOARD
CERTIFICATION AMO BACKGROUND INFORMATION FORM
SAME OF PRIVATE SCHOOL: Indianola Academy
2. ADDRESS (in clude countv) : Highway 82 East, Indianola, Sunflower County,
Ml Si ! SSI up ! 18751
3- NAME AND TITLE OF OFFICIAL
COMPLETING FORM: J . A, Ely, J r . , President, Indianola Educational____________ Foundation, Inc.
4„ GRADES PRESENTLY SERVED BY SCHOOL: 1 -12___________________
5. DATE PRIVATE. SCHOOL OPENED FOR. THE
FIRST TIME AND GRADES SERVED UPON
OPENING: September, 1965 Grades 1 & 2
6.
7.
3 - S 1966
DATE ADDITIONAL GRADES WERE ADDED (if any) : 6,~ 9 1967• iGtn yr. 1963"
ENROLLMENT AND FACULTY 3Y RACE:
Students
11 & 12 1969
Professional
Staff
White
70
Black
0
White
4
Black
0
612 0 32 0
1504 0 86 0
1221 0 62 0
1221 0 62 0
1024 0 51 0
1004 0 59 Q
965 0 55 0
Upon. Opening-
September 1969
February 1970
September 1970
February 1971
September 1971
September 1972
September 1973
(projected)
'3a, STATE WHETHER STUDENTS ATTENDING SCHOOL ARE IDENTIFIED BY
RELIGION BY SCHOOL RECORDS: No__________________________
i>. if yes, state the religion catered to by the school: n/a
C„ If yes, state the number of students, by religion, enrolled in
the school in September 1972: n/a __________________
d,. If yes, 3tate the number of faculty members, by religion,
employed by the school in September 1972: n/a______________
9, IS THE SCHOOL PRESENTLY RECOGNIZED AS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL
INCOME TAXES? YES _*____ NO _______
If yes, state the date on which said exemption was approved
or granted: September 2. 1964 *_______________________ _______
-iai-
p~r<lê&̂sSiwas."’
#.v!
EK
H
■£pt~A;- ..bv"■ ̂ • ;*
UJ. COES-1HE sent® MAINTAIN EDUCATIONAL S T ^ A R D S ESTABLISH EH
" • Kr' THE STATE DEPART4E^brr,’DF EDUCATION?
SS?
-• ’ ■’; ?'!- *-v C'SfT *" " ■ .v * . .. ’jic. *'. ? "’ , '• - * “ ' . • _
‘.V-V’' W ••' *..*•;' . srnnoL?- «0"".- ' ’- —— ■■ '• -.■■■-— " .. — '— "' •-,
_ / ' !~ P * ' • V V • ;.- .< IS yia; state .the.'number, of such scholarships, offered, .during .
^'^!̂ - ^ 0 tLSn^7 T-'si^akA yea^'tpd j. a); ..• whi-te-:students ,-, ,,,.,,,-i-—.— ..,, .
f
; "I
-~r;t-4i" -■ >. _
.- & ■?T•-•■''.'-jii' ~'r< ̂• f s*r5*s-'» -̂r. -S
; • ' • f ■ $s
- {.
12. ARE SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED BY PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS TO STUDENTS
OF YOUR SaiOOL? YES ____ _ NO'_X---—
If. yeS, state the number of students by race who obtained
such scholarship assistance during the 1972-73 school year,
a) black students ____________s whlte students ----
No13. HAS ANY TUITION DUE THE SCHOOL BEEN WAIVED?
14.
If yes. then state the number of students, by race, granted
such waiver during- the 1972-73 school year: a) white
students n/a . . ...____ - and b) black students --------- -
ARE ANY BLACK STUDENTS ENROLLED AT YOUR SCHOOL MEMBERS OF
ANY ATHLETIC TEAM(S) SPONSORED 3Y YOUR SCHOOL? --l£--------
If yes, state the number of such students for the 1972-73
school year "/.a-------
15a. DOES THE SCHOOL HAVE A WRITTEN AFFIRMATIVE POLICY OF ADMITTING
STUDENTS IRRESPECTIVE OF RACE?-----f.S .............. —------
If yes, attach a copy of that policy and state the date of its
adoption by the governing board or the school. ILL--— ------
b. Has the-school publicized this policy in a manner that is
intended-to-and.'has; been reasonably effective in bringing .
■it to'the attention'of persons df-student.age (and their
families) who are of minority groups, including all nan-
whites? Yes___ . If yes, attach copies of all notices
in all newspapers, brochures, catalogues or printed
advertisements appearing or prepared at the time tne scnoci
was first opened and during the past school year.
c. Has any member of the school's governing board, administrators
or faculty taken any action or made any statement qualxj.y^ g
or negating the school’s stated policy of open admissions?
Jia___ _ _____ _____ ______________________ _ ’
IS* STATE THE NAMES AND ADDRESSES AND RACE OF THE SCHOOL S:
a) Incorporators;
J . A. Elv. J r . . R.F.P., Shaw. Miss. -----
I .:' j Paul L o tt . J. C. Robertson, Opie R. L i t t l e , J r . , W. W. Gresham, J r
■ | .1 y MrPhprson. Georae H. L ip e , Louis L. Incold, David Rosentha i_,
I
| a l l o f Indianola. John R. Early, .then of IndianoU* nnw West P o int
I
Miss. All are members of the white race.----------------
3
- 2 -
— <ŝ 2 J *■'
3
ii-.-. Jk ■;:j'.ist* • ••■■ *
ii*v (
•.' Same • * ’ ... • •; .-'' : •
. • r.' *• ..
' 'v--. -Y '• V •
• ■ ■■■ - r-- ■ - •• • ? » . . . . . . Jlv. >. -V- “->*• • ' .'.fc
’ 1 • —V*v..»r»-v ,V..V V “l >>»;” ̂».-V
cj Board Members:
L i s t a t t a c h e d
.. ' -‘HA
17. STATE THE NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS, CORPORATIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS
ViKC (WHICH) HAVE CONTRIBUTED LAND OR BUILDINGS TO THE SCHOOL*
Emily S. Johnson and V. A. Johnson contributed the land.______
Ho buildings were contributed.
■' IS. 'STATE WHETHER ANY INDIVIDUAL, CORPORATION-'OR ORGANIZATION"
LISTED IN ANSWER. TO 16 and' 17 HAS ATTEMPTED TO INFLUENCE THE
SCHOOL TO MAINTAIN RACIALLY SEGREGATED EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS,
No _____________
If yes, state the name of such individual, corporation or
corporation. ..... ............................... _ .-
19. STATE WHETHER ANY BOARD MEMBER, OFFICER OR ADMINISTRATOR OF
THE SCHOOL IS PRESENTLY A MEMBER OF ANY ORGANIZATION ESPOUS
ING OR ADVOCATING WHITE RACIAL SUPREMACY OR SUPERIORITY.
Ho
If yes. list such individual:
i m * - -d
the foregoing'' information is. true and accurate to the hest of ̂ Y' j
•affidavit is 4'xeoited^a»'ar<^di^»k 'fdt'Supplying -Mississippi
State-owned textbooks to the above named private school, and -hat
full and accurate answers are required by order of the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi
dated- July 25, 1973, in civil action No. WC 70-53-K, styled
Norwood, at al, v. Harrison, et al, on the docket of the court.
This, 10th day o f _______August--------------- •» 1973------ *
U- A. Ely, J r . \
Title: President, Indianola Educational
Sworn and subscribed to
before me this /r'ktday197S-' .
Foundation, inc.
for
Indianola Academy
O f A jju‘ (Name of School)
Notary Public
My Commission Expires':
(SEAL)
The governing body of Indianola Academy, at its regular mectin g,
Tuesday, affirmed the Academy's racially non-discriminatory policy as to
students and that it admits the students of any race to all the rights,
privileges, programs and activities generally accorded or made available
to students accepted at the Academy; that its policy is to make no dis
crimination on the basis of race in administration of educational, policies,
application for admission, and athletic and extra- curricular programs.
I certify the above and foregoing to be an actual, correct and literal
excerpt of the minutes of Xndianola Educiional Foundation, Inc. , of
its regular September ?» 1971, meeting. *
Witness m y signature this the 8th day of August, A. D., 1973.
7 RICHARD M. ALLEN, Secretary
I
- A l e J -
Based upon the evidence submitted, it is held that you are exempt from Federal income tax as an
organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as it is shown that /ou
are organized and operated exclusively for the purpose shown above. Any questions concerning
taxes levied under other subtitles of the Code should be submitted to us.
I
!
You are not required to file Federal income tax returns so long as you retain an exempt status, un
less you are subject to the tax on unrelated business income imposed by section 511 of the Coue
and are required to file Form 99Cf-T for the purpose of reporting unrelated business taxaoie income.
Any changes in your character, purposes or method of operation should be reported immediately to
this office foi consideration of their effect upon your exempt status. You should also report any
change in your name or address. Your liability for filing Vhe annual information return, Form 990A,
is set forth above. That return, if required, must be filed after the close of your annual accounting
period indicated above.
Contributions made to you are deductible by donors as provided in section 170 of the Code. Be
quests, legacies, devises, transfers or gifts to or for your use are deductiole .or Federal estate
' and gift tax purposes.under the provisions of section 2055, 2106 and 2o2z oi the- uode.I
I
!
!
[
l
f
'
ou are not liable for the taxes imposed under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (social
scurity taxes) unless you file a waiver of exemption certificate as provided in such Act. You are
ot liable for the tax imposed under the Federal Unemployment Fax Act. Inquiries apout .he
aiver of exemption certificate for social security taxes should be addressed to this office.
This is a determination letter.
Very truly yours,
l. ^ . t7 > W
Jj• G» M&rtin.* Jx•
District Director
FORM 295-4 !RCV. 9-«l)
3FO » U 4 > 3
' f.aata • u‘1 aft *•* h**1» h . .• AAV 4
hor-r:r nrt.w* V..-
lOlMTU K .4 TJ0 H ! ...... .•►■.' >• -•■ j- • ■••-'
Irviianola. Kducational Foundation, Inc.
305 5.iat ut*eah«r* St*
Indlanola, Kiaa*
, c . , , I , , , 1 f
, - _ , i : ; .• i - . c r 1 l . » •*,* l i t i n s ! (■ ■ «* ««.* ' « • - t 0•'icl't-h- )' wi-nr * * .,’v . e„,s ,t •! t Mte. «*(*■••«» *« ̂ r " '. ii’1 '-11 e*1* .1-0 , on* **"*■•' *t*«n.•>*•.•• • •» "*••••' 1 * ' v ’ _ „ T.y .fated in** . ». octeW"***’'-*
* ^ u . „ f t . , L h U . <•( r . e l . ' f In* ‘ '
„ ~ ~ -..... ....... - - -
ft,* *.•!.«« •*' / rloc* ,l ■”“5 Itdi.ft Director Re*«*‘J*
¥»!•» M* a•«*»•e - •.» •
!M 5 T K U l T I0 N S
?1 ,,s l* 4 M « ’*? F-*?ry s . 'f 'o n who haa r«< (•. <r rt.».,a jy secured a » » . ie « t ;l? , *1 (.>«i nutnur* *,* t *«, , < »! ;.»* *
r** «•*.{.J . r r * *t y n :rn*4«te;i ><* im»t « an id e n tif ic a t io n number fo r m c'tia r.m .1 arsv le tu .n . .«*<e**e»t o r other
‘ Htiv .oar* a f r U c e lH F * »n i.ie n ttf . r a fu -n mw*thr» < H*mM .nr f ife d . re ** ru le r a of rfcr num u-r n( <^*rfa»e«i T h u i «
rf ; r e « -*• ?r.. *i,e *•*»« • * vt f *-<.t r ♦ ut..«er i»e « r n v * r <*»* .««*» or trade n*ree« h a th c rrj> o «a « irn o f «n * m { *ie>i fttynp
r ?rr*/r ' a»».' tr •» 1. ( : .# a %*?»*?«♦* • i^ i«< a .4on. f. a i< u «iitra « <• ani 1 or t»ar*sJr'rp ,j »iui f h - n « r -y*n*f J*,#*
r*t»t H*n** ».« o*» *"*»♦.*«•? ,ne iK .u ! i l . *• aar rh r to r a i i l ic a « io « AM i«6«r «»asg«e*4 o chr pc. r » o « j o « a r r , Ui< .ituar fit* m
• f t l u n u n f . f.:: - o - t f i r » n * » iJ m n f ic a u s m aar-tl-er.
•m.R! ! ?!fs n i l \ I if »\ 1»* '•i •! n . t.ii* fK r M <; P ia fr jc t H irfc io * o i latem ai R t w iu c r i l i i « i *n ih t f r . i r « i »*•
fnnnr •• a* »•
1 VHfV■■• F'. ’N r'f h 'I r l'y (*‘ Hv fhnar atIh* p#f on c* thr rrrmtFt rf*r a/trr ih<*
1. i rn . * i . « r u*i f ^ w J i c a u o f l mimiiei to u r t:tciu>!e<l id return , ttatem* hr, ,
tie >m -rhtch
iiot ! ; • • • f *• » : u»r. • *. * t»r j n 1 »r*b««4.k j» s* nt t’ ,ie ink A ll •«***f t » sF m iio *«r r/ f .r « -r t ( le f l .« p. n ife»i j,: t r o .f *«ti» l.a .ln >mt •••n in
? r . r e t , • fre.r < •- : r j - r . « . » r i t r a. ( » . ;* m «m l rn te t i » ft • n - the tra .)« name tF * nr a .lc fte i For b ra.ae**
p . i f o a r r f o r f i - ̂ 1 l ih t . lif t -.o a f .>*n<r, o p e ra te ; a r t i r a v r t n r hole* .h r rrad « rtantr wf H »*i*MUiiir« iottn T • .re*" % „ »;*i be cnincrJ «n Ur,a I and “Bear êtîutant" ,0 ften* ̂
M O T T ; - IF t fe lte d ttacure ** -u it o* I r r ot v irr re e . 1 n**ter. oral o» e t r r te r *gt e em et». * ,{ » de c ia ra ti-jn of tn ia t . »r < ther (e*al
f ' t n i e u t f f? :ter in (,fn> I the ft .,, nm ̂ * fcn*u«retj thereunder. If a corporari-m enter ir. Itf»n 1 the rn tin rate n a--.tr u
*et forth (• i« i ch arte r nr t*ltef lej.^1 j,./ 1 ft*» i * f o - l uy the O e « e n n « 111 ire «u «* g it Tn the c i r t f a t i- je t . ihe ti me af
'h e tf • « eatare ^fmold he m ! t » . « i*. a n - the name of the tiu a tee 10 hem ' »he c a je 0 / an eata e of • u e re « ie »t ,
in* ..i*ent etc . the n«nte <•< u ie r » t .< e , >t he entered in Item 1 ami the not e «.» M .- « . jn im a tra tu t ot oth-* f td iir ia re m
Item ; If »he 'm e «*-,<■ 1* .nu**i«ii* U*.-.. :i ihunfd he shown m a t ta trm t .1 a f t .c - - 'v i van* 1.>m. lr> a u ri * «e, » at oet
* « »*<o» »/ »K# f»*e»* iiiu u M ie» a*i. o i« « i fo a-rut* o f thta fan* and entered ua Uem *
s t a t e o f Mississrrrt
COUNTY OF SUNFLOWER
, '~n <s 7 a ^ ...Personally appeared before me, a ......................................-■■■■y.......^ .......
In and for said County and State, )£•. of
Enterprise-Tocsin, a newspaper published in salt! City, County and State, who upon
being duly sworn* deposes and says:
The notice, of which a true copy Is hereunto annexed, was published In
said newspaper .....J .........., consecutive weeks, as follows:
" No-V !o ...
s a | n
Day of
...l..... Day of .....
..... Day of .....
,.:l...... Day of .....
...... Day of .....
.Va,...... Day of .....
.J y * Z ..... Vot, .
is.....:.
19...........
1 9 ....................
, 1 9 ....................
, 1 9 ....................
Vol............. No........ .....
Vol..
voi......
Vol. ......
Vol. .......
)
No..........
No. -------
No.............
, No....
U
Cr
s i
I
Academy affirms racially
non-discriminatory policy
Signed:
r fnrther certify that I have examined the several copies of the
Enlerp ^ l T l S abovert referred to, and find that the said notice has been
published as stated.
■ ; Subscribed and sworn to, before me, this day of 19 .
My Ccavnission Expires July
The governing body of Indla-
nola Academy* at its tegutar
meeting, Tuesday affirmed the
Academy’s racially non-discri-
minatory policy as to students
and that It admits the students
of any race to all the rights,
privileges, programs and acti
vities generally accorded or
Cost: $............ - ¥
13. 1975
made available to students ac
cepted at the Academy.
The board also affirmed its
policy is to make no discri
mination on the basis of race
in administration of education
al policies, application for ad
mission, and athletic and extra
curricular programs.
V A- .BOARD- OP -’DIRECTORS ■* ■ ■ ,
FHE [NOIANQLA EDUCAT IONAL FOUNDATION’, INC.
j;" at"Ely,"of•„ -Pres?. / ..Shaw;, Miss. 38773 .
Turner Arant Blaine, Miss.
George Baird Inverness, Miss.
Tom 8arron Woodbine Dr., Indianola, Ms.
Mrs. C. E. Dunlap 1410 Maple, Cleveland, Ms.38732
Mrs. Hugh Gayden Fisher Rt. 2, Box 23, Indianola
Mrs. Leslie Fletcher E. Percy, Indianola
W. W. Gresham, Jr. Gresham Petroleum Co., Indianola
Max Hodges Rt. 2, Box 135, Indianola
John Hough, Jr.
Louis Ingold ' Seymour Johnson
501 Alexander, Indianola
210 E. Percy, Indianola 8 Seymour Dr., Indianola
Wayne King ■Inverness, Miss.
George Lipe Rt. 2, Box 55, Indianola
John McPherson Gresham Service Station,.Indianola
N. H. McMath P.O.Box 195, Isold, Ms. 38754
Noel Morgan Box 38, Sunflower, Ms. 38778
T. A. Murtagh Moorhead, Ms. 38751
Henry Paris . ...Lewis Grocer Co., Indianola
Mrs. W. M. Pitts 202 E. Parkway, Indianola
Scott Poindexter Inverness, Ms.
James Robertson Holly Ridge, Miss.
Bobby Shepard 310 Clover Dr., Indianola
Mrs. Guy Robinson- ■ 603 E. Percy, Indianola
Bill Toler Inverness, Miss.
All are members of the white race.
- 3a j -
Dear Mr. Parker*
fn ternat R e v e n u e S e r v i c e
'wv. .ill Li Li — / > j * >j ■— '' -■ * -1
D*"i r AU G 1974 I " . t
------ ------- - c p j X jS jP __
Mr. Frank R. Parker
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights
Under Law
233 North Parish Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201 ^
“•S
On behalf of the Commissioner, I would like to thank you for your
July 17 letter in which you informed us of additional developments in
Norwood v. Harrison. While we cannot reveal specific actions concerning
the individual schools involved, va assure, you that your information is
being considered. Vie appreciate your continued interest in the private
school area.
Sincerely yours, ^
(Signed) S.3_.__Wolfe >.
S. 3. Wolfe
Director, Audit Division
EXHIBIT 4
- S i d -
tv
'
*
>
'
»■
I v
y
.-<
?
l:
rv
'7
April 15, 1974
Mr. Donald Alexander
Commissioner of Internal Revenue
U. S. Internal Revenue Service
Washington, D. C. 20224
Dear Mr. Alexander:
This refers to Frank R. Parker’s letter to you of March 11,
1974, concerning your Service's enforcement responsibilities with respect
to Green v. Connolly, 330 F. Supp. 1150 (D. D. C. 1971), aff’d, 404 F. 2d
997"(ETC. Cir. 1972), in light of the Supreme Court's decision in Norwood
v. Harrison, 37 L. Ed. 2d 723 (1974).
As Mr. Parker's letter indicates, post-Norwood proceedings
have disclosed that a number of ineligible Mississippi private schools
continue to enjoy tax exempt and deductible contribution status. We would
like to try to resolve, as economically and expeditiously as possible, the
question which this raises about your certification standards and auditing
procedures of these and similarly situated schools.
Therefore, I request an opportunity for representatives of
the plaintiffs, including Mr. Levenfchal, Mr. Parker, and myself, to
meet with you, Assistant Attorneys General Crampton and Pottinger,
and any other officials whom you may identify as appropriate to explore
ways of securing our clients' rights short of further proceedings In Green.
We would like to meet at your convenience during the period
.April 30 through May 9, 1974* and I shall appreciate hearing from you
m sufficient time for us to coordinate our arrangements.
EXHIBIT' 5
- 3 & J -
Mr. Donate Alexander
April 15, 1974
Parre Two '
Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
J IIF :vmt
cc: Honor able J. Stanley Pottingcr
Honorr.bie Scott P. Crumpton
Brian K. Landsbory, Esq.
Mslvyu H. Leventhal, Esq.
Erariv R. Parker, Esq*
J. Harold Flannery
Director
' b ' b l -
com m issioner
MAY 171974
Harold Flannery, Director-
•yers' .Committee for Civil Rights
I Under Law
■73 3 Fifteenth Street, Suite 520
Washington, D, C.
|Dear -Ur. Flannery:
20005
concerning the
ti.3
Thank you for your letter of April 15, 1974,
{possible impact, of -tire decision in Rcrwood v. Ilarri:--- .. .
6.S. 455 on the Internal Revenue Service's certification standards
and auditing procedures relating to tax exemptions for privatef schools. As Mr. Pottinger and I told you in our telephone con
versation, I met Monday with Assistant Attorneys General Crampton
and Pottinger to discuss the
Frank Parker's letter of Ma
natters raised by your letter and by
ch 11, 1974, on this same subject.
The purpose of this letter is to provide written confirmation“ “ . . - - -t • -t . . . - jo * t nwhat r told you. ’irst v;e have already advised our field
office to■look into these matters. The Civil
the Department of Justice will cooperate with
Service in such matters wherever appropriate.
Rights Division of
the Internal Revenue
We are re-evaluating
jtxie standards for tax exemptions in light of the Norwood decision
vnd our experience under Rev. Proc. 72-54, 1972-2, C.B. 334.
in that re-evaluation,
to what changes
Rights
views.
na Mr. Pottinger .11 assistiJr. Crampton
land we would be pleased to have your views as
may be warranted. Appropriate personnel from the Civil
Division will be in touch with you soon to obtain such
Sincerely yours,
;~vC -j- ■—*s_
Donald C. Alexander
E X H IB IT 6
- 3 ^ -
:al
b - d J
zzo
LA WY E R S ' COMMI T T E E
FOR CIVIL RI GHTS UNDE R LAW
S O U T H P A R I S H S T R E E T . J A C K S O N . M I S S I S S I P P I 3 9 2 0 ! • P H O N E ( S O I ) 9 4 3 . 3 4 0 3
January 21, 1976
Meade Whitaker, Esquire
Chief Counsel
Internal Revenue Service
1111 Constitution Avenue/ N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20224
Re: Green v. Connaliv
Dear Mr. /.'hi takar:
On. December 13, 19 74 , we met with you and other officials of
the Internal Revenue Service 'regarding what we consider
laxity in IRS enforcement cf the decree n
Court in the above-styled case. In parti<
that in proceedings in District Courts in
segregated private schools were being cut off from state aid a:
: we consider to be
.dared by the Dis tr
iar, we were cor.ce
.he South raciallv
assistance (tuition crrants, tt ) O G iC S f :c.) iuse or :hc
discriminatory admissions policies, while at the
s am.e
We 'soecificalIv
in MlSS1SSLCD
Court in Morwoo
to have d'
vmi
v ,
ntinuing to enjoy Fed*
ibil *• ■*“ *. r - 0 C ccntributi<
rough u ro your a tte
ei ther had been detev* y*’SO Civi1 Mc ■ W'
eral tax benefits (tax
ons) under IRS rulings.
■_7 n
n -l u r
ed by— C 7> — V
U - A
Livate scncols
the District
CJ.D. Miss . ) ,7 m i ■* ̂n mrrimmatcry amissions policies o r __ ______ _ ____
ineligibility for stare textbooks under the Mormoi guidelines by
returning their textbooks or by failing to reapply for
list of those-- schools is enclosed.
:hem. A
We would like to know (1) what steos the Internal Revenue
Service has taken, to conform its policicw. am enror
o tne guiceimes and requirements anr.ouncea by the Distric
m Mo: m o d ,
the advance
terminate tne rax exerr.p
enclosed attachment?
nd (2) what steps, if any, has IRS
ssurance cf.deductibiiitv of contra
3. CU 3 Gf the 10
:aken to suspend
< u. C .lo n s to o r v.o
iis ced on m e
Ohis matter has dragged on for several years without
final resolution aecut which we have been informec Becausf
.cl
- 3 5 9 '
Meade Whitaker, Esquire
January 21, 1976
Page 2
is an urgent natter deserving expedited consideration, I t
appreciate hearing from you within 20 days of your raceip
letter „
Thank you for your speedy' attention to and considers
this important matter.
Yours very truly,
Frank R. Parker
Chief Counsel
FRP:1jh
Enclosure
bcc: Paul R. Dimond
Larry Newton
vould
t of this
tion of
■Segregated Private School
'Columbia Ac a do nr/
P. 0. Box 189,
Co 1 umb i a , iris - 39429
Norwood Action . ,
Admitted ineligibility ir. Nor>~cod
by failing to apply for state
textbooks under new nan-disarm: nx
reauirements; returned state taxti
Copiah Educ- Fdtn. , I.
317 Gallatin Stree t
Hazlehurs t, Ms. 390 3 3
Deer Creek-Eci i_io a i o n a
Hallandale, is •. ic. / hO
Inc. Same
Same
Clinton Educ. Fdtn., Inc.
106 E. Cynthia Road
Clinton, Ms. 39 2.0 5
Marshall County Educ. Fdtn., Inc.
Holly Springs, Ms. 38635
Educational Foundation, Inc.
P. 0. Box 65
Lucedale, Ms. 39452
Indianola Educ. Fdtn., Inc.
305 East'Gresham St.
Indianola, Ms. 35751
Same (may be defunct)
S clITtS
Same
Entered no contest plea after
textbook eligibility was challenge':
in Norwood, and ruled non eligible
to receive state textbooks by
order of 3/1/74.
Lula Rich Educ. Fdtn., Inc. Admi t te d in e 1 i g
?. 0. Box 333
Lula, Ms, 33544
apply; returned
North Delta School, Inc. Entered no conb
P. 0. Box D textbook eligib
Crenshaw, Ms. 33621 and after evide:
No twoo d, and re
textbooks by le
Quitman County Educ. Fdtn., Inc. After challenge
■ P. G . Box 5 5 Norwood, held t
* la rxs , Ms. 3-8 5 4 a di s c r imin a to my
a/k/a County Day School and ordered to
by opinion and <
■ m r- ms r-,
'1-2 3.
- -. • n
:urnea sea
o n FJ *. *-
3 n l -
Intern.'.'!' ; *vonue 3crvica
Washington, p.C. 20224•
*4O 1 Mi J I
!
Fee s «?s
Mr. Frank R. Parker
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
233 North Parish Street
Jackson, Mississippi 39201
Dear Mr. Parker:
In reply to your January 21 letter concerning the
Service's private school program, we are providing the
following information. As we informed you in our meeting
on December 13, 1974, the Service has been giving priority
to a review of the entire private school program. We are
still working on certain portions of it, but we believe that
we have already strengthened the program with the publication
of Revenue Ruling 75-231 on church-related schools and
Revenue Procedure 75-50 with guidelines and recordkeeping
requirements for private schools. Copies are enclosed.
For a fuller discussion of our progress, we are also enclosin
a copy of a recent letter we sent to the U. S. Commission
on Civil Rights in which we provided updated information on
our private school program.
We .
to confo
Revenue
comments
included
will be
availabi
are finalizing private school examination guidelines
rm our audit instructions to the requirements of
Procedure 75-50. We will, of course, consider any
or suggestions for'items you believe should be
in these guidelines. As the examination guidelines
part of the Internal Revenue Manual, they will be
e for public inspection when adopted.
You asked for a status report on ten specific Mississipp
private schools. Columbia Academy failed to establish tax-
exempt status. Clinton Educational Foundation, Inc., has
been terminated because it ceased operations. We have deter
mined that there is no organization called Educational
Foundation, Inc., of Lucedale; we had such an entry on our
Organization Master File, butExempt
.iry j-OiT uuv
Foundation, Inc., is exempt,
entry for another organization. Marshall County Educational
was an erroneous
•J
E x m r 3
zzd-
Mr, Frank R. Parker
The six remaining schools have been contacted concernin
the continuation of their tnx-rexempt' status and the advance
assurance of deductibility of contributions. The suspension
of advance assurance issue is presently before the National
Office of the Servi.ce. Any change to a specific school's
right to advance assurance of deductibility or tax-exempt
status will be published in the Internal Revenue Bulletin.
Sincerely
MEADE WHITAKER
Chief Counsel
Enclosures•(3)
Rev. Proc. 75-50
Rev. Rul. 75-231
Roy. Prnr. 7 S - S f)ev. Proc. /D-D
1/5/76 letter' to U. S. Commission
on Civil Rights
3 < W
cctian 501
I
of business or pnnctp.il office of
roruntiinuioti. Fee sections y M >*)
and 1 .5 0 1 ( a ) * ! of the^reguluuons.
r:s C F R
- Pc & Z o ‘rr*r.uncls.
B T r ~ e x l t » n 0 1 }
' ( A h ^ S e c t i o n i ' 0 ,
^C haritab le coiUribi'tion-s; church
opera ted schoo ls with d iscrtrn jna-
lory policies. O rganizations, incua*
in? ch u rch es , th a t co n d u c t scnuois
.-•idi a pcficy of refusing tc ac ce p t
children from certa in redo ! an d
ethnic groups will n o t recog
nized s s tax-exem pt e n a rn ^ s u ^
d s r sec tions 1 /0 ^ n d 5QU c a - )
the Code.
Rev. Rul. 75-2311
Advice has been requested whether
the organizations described below,
which oti~.cr.visc qualify for mu mption.
from Feci err.! income tax uncer sec
tion 501(c)(3) of the internal Keve-
nuc Code of 1951. arc opermod ex
clusively for charitable purposes.
Situation 1.x was organized as a separate
corporate entity under mu ruisp.-e^
of an organization qunuiyiruU«l A**''-*fcV* l • f
church for the express P'"'P°‘C cu
operating a school for the children
of the local community m whicn me
church regularly conducts sretatmn
reg io n s services. The governing body
of the church is a council whose
are selected from the members, arc „ . , n ru
church’s congregation. The
• selected the original members ot A s
board of directors and mnimams dU
control over all aspects ot us op-rat-
S and operates a school
program that correspond with
public school program ^ ‘includes
grades. Although us p.c. r-.m
x 10-minute religious service at
start of each school may and .
~ Z * d ^ T1R.1373, dated May
22, 1075.
153
devotion of o ther amounts of time to
religious themes and saujocw, 1 *c
school complies with State law re
quirements for public cduca.ton.
school has a policy of refusing to
m-ccpt any children from certain
racial and ethnic groups.
Situation 2.
\ n organization qualifying as a
church, having x full complement of
active religious functions, dtrccdy
sunervbcs and contro.s, as part ot us
ewe rail operations, Y school. / is no
separately incorporated. F’s ° f
do not differ in any material respect
from those carried on oy :\ m - •
ib n I, including, as a matter of xMoeX
policy, the exclusion of stmieno from
certain racial arid ethnic groups.
Situation 3.
Z an organization qualifying as a
church, operates a school identical «|
Y in Situation 2. ^ a.so orgamz-
controls as a separate corporate entuy
a school identical to X m • ~ua ion •
Z assorts t h a t tlie-policy ouscrvrd oy
die tvvo schools of excluding children
from certain racial and ethnic group.
. • i \ . . -Ur* •{•nets c l v a c rcii-15 icquircu U> *
cion it embraces- ,
Section 170 of the Code prov.ucs,
in part, that there shah oc ai.ovm-
a5 a deduction any char.mnle con-
.m ission, »
(C) , payment of whicn is ma-w H '"
L taxable year. Section l /0 (c ) pro
vides, in pertinent part, dial a emu -
table contribution means a c o . ^ u
don or gift to or for me use of
Potation, . . o r — -
fund, or foundation o^ .m i/eu
operated exclusively for remp •-
s&msnWe, scientific. t e w . ° r
cadonal purposes, or for me pm<-
don of cruelty to children or animals.
Section 501 (c)(3 ) of die Code pro
vides, among other things, tor nc
exemption from Federal income tax
of organizations “organized and
Tax Regulations specifics the r:q nre-
ments which an o r g e a t : m
meet to be “otgamzeu aim o ., m.d
for one more exempt
exclusively’’
P" S i J O U H ( S ) - « - 0 ( * l *
the regulations provides m at me t.n n
“charitable" is used »
rc ) t 3) of the Code m its » ■ " * ‘ 7
£$*■«**not to be construed as h-ut.icu >
” , ansus auisncnuion m « » > * •
A (3) „f wiser « o m n p t p u tp -e s
& * m s * W1 w i s h i n g o r e s m
of “charity as devoop d by
iud icrl decisions. Such section, fur-
5 “ provides thus such r u n sssclsssis*
advancement of education- ,
, :n i /cl 13’' - 1 (ill (a (it) or Section 1-bUl (c.i ^J/ v o ‘ •
the regulations provincs a m ^
many or secondary sca-.o. si ... *
regularly enrolled body c:
attendance at a place w h.rc -..;e -
-cadonal activities are r-guh. ■) -
ried on may qualify .or .x ,
an educational orgamziuion -
charactcr cnr.tcmplutcu ^ . ^ r ' V
501( c ) ( 3) of me e c u : i , - -
wise meets the .rccnurca-n.v
SCCtl0n* „ ,. „ ^ 71.2 C.P, 250,Rev. Kul. n - U ' i - , , (V ( t
m in-urnreting sccf.cn g
the Code, concludes
rruion is ssos . P ' ; « us
charUAbiC ‘ . , -
arc earned o*< » * COntmry
be rcasonab.y *-.a. p.u
.1! ••<-abI’s’ied F-demS pumu
• •* * r 7. rtf si ... 71-117, rtb rig P*'4**poltcv. iv-v >ts... ̂ f ,
. 55-..lion, at.' L.w. m - • ,
La-er judicial tt.-c.si'.-tu m —
'A-, r-.u ami. I'rwuu’us ? t
P etiur.-
crimina-
puidK ■
ixprer-*..
rhcol a-
V11 -... , ,, - .
Civil Rights Act o. } - ■
there
*3
is a •c!l-c. :.ibush.x.
crated cxc’iusivvly for religious, cha
or educational purposes.... . r . 1. T ., r r>
public policy against t.i
don in education.^ wn
private. Rev. x ’-.. 1
l io 'u is , t h e r e : o i r . s..
; i f . .having a ran-.u.'
policy xs to snide:
;ivr• I t ■’ •-* l I
m y ;
to be chan u *j
C O
t Y n 1.5W M (3h C “ := ! * “ «
law sense con tem phved by seem
SaeUan 501
I
j | l70 .ind 501 (c )(3 ) and. other rcic-
va«t Federal statutes^ . ■ -••fifi .•' l". • •’
'-■Thir- cducaLUon.tr. programs s- corr-
Iductcd biy -A* and Y consist of ^secular
...' subjects- of- the sa:mr sdqpc‘ and - type!
ommorrly dealt .with, in .the ,public
[schools or hi private schools that arc
not religiously oriented. There is no
•basis for treating separately incorpo
rated schools that, although church-
related, tench secular subjects and
generally comply with. State law re-
« quirerncnts for public education for
the grades fo r which instruction is
provided, any differently than private
^ sch o o ls that arc not church-affiliated,
■A ccordingly, in Situation l , because
X fails to maintain a racially o r
^Jtthn ically nondiscrirninntory policy as
|R .o students, A' is not operated cxciti-
^mfivcly for charitable purposes and does
not, therefore, qualify as a charity
gflfor Federal income tax deduction and
Pfcncnipiion purposes under sections 170
and 501(c)(3 ) of die Code. The dis
qualification of'A ' will not affect the
Jbtenipt status of the organization
qualifying as a church solely as a
Jesu it of the organization and control
■pt A', as set forth in Situation 1, prior
®o the effective date of the disqualifi
cation.
■ Situation 2 differs from Situation 1
"only in that Y is not separately incor-
I’aerated, and is directly supervised and
Controlled within the same legal orga
nization as the cluirch. A racially or
ethnically discriminatory policy as to
adonis is as contrary to Federal
public policy under these circum
stances as it is when the educational
I institution is separately incorporated,
m analysis of the historical develop-
Tent of this fundam ental expression
of national policy reaffirms the con
clusion that the form of the educa
tional organization is not relevant for
these purposes. Sea Norwood v. Harn-
■r, -H3 U.S. 455 (1973), in which
|he Supreme Court Held tiiat a state
ni*y not provide free textbooks to a
private school if th.eir availability
■vouid have a “significant tendency to
facilitate, reinforce, and support pri-
.■vote discrftjjTparibnT.; In that ease idie
Court made -ha exception far the
schools that were not separate legal
: organizations hut" were directly . op
erated^ by churches’that were receiv
ing free textbooks. It follows that die
legal organization operating Y is frus
trating- Federal public policy by Slav
ing a racially or ethnically discrimina
tory policy as to students. Under
these circumstances, tiiat organization
is not operated exclusively for chari
table purposes within the meaning of
section 501(c)(3 ) of die Code and
the regulations thereunder. Accord
ingly, the organization does not quali
fy as a charity for Federal income tax
deduction and exemption pttqxsses
under sections 170 and 501 (c)(3 ).
Situation 3 differs from Situation 1
and 2 only irr that Z asserts tiiat a
tenet of tire religion which it embraces
requires that the schools maintain a
racially discriminatory policy as to
students. It is. well-settled that a reli
gious basis for an activity will not
serve to preclude governmental inter
ference with that activity, if it is
otherwise clearly contrary to Federal
’public policy. Thus, for example, the
Supreme Court in Mormon Church
United States, 136 U.S. ! (1090),
upheld the constitutional validity of
a series of Federal statutes that, among
oilier things, had abrogated the cor
porate charter previously granted to
the members of a specific church by;
a special act of die territorial legisla
ture of Utah and had directed the
institution of judicial proceedings for
a complete winding up of its affairs,
ail because of its persistent promotion
and defense of polygamy in direct vio
lation- of Federal statutory-law.
T iia t those responsible for a given
course of conduct may sincerely be
lieve that they have a religious duty
to act in a certain m anner does not
alter the situation. The First Amend
ment, which provides in pan that
Congress shall make no law prohibit
ing the free exercise of religion, does
rncrc- religious beliefs and .'.pinions,
bar governmental .interference, with,
hu t ft .docs not affect the heal con
sequences otherwise attending a given
practice or action that is.not inherent
ly religious. See !lcy;:n!ds United
States, S3 U.S. i 45, 166-167 (ifw n );
Mitchell u. Pilgrim Uolir.es: Church
Corporation, 210 F. 2d 879 (7th Clir.
1954), cert, denied, 347 U.S 1013
(1954) : U S . v. Craft, 423 F. 2d 329,
333 (9th Car. 1970’! ; and I.insect' v.
Millers Falls Co., 4-10 F. 2:1 14 (1st
Cir. 1971).
• The important distinction between
religious belief, on the one Stand, and
the legal . consequences that may
validly be attached to action induced
by religious belief, on the outer, is
well illustrated by one recent litv of
eases interpreting the Federal drug
laws. The courts have repeatedly re
fused to engraft a religious exception
on any criminal statute outlawing the
transportation of heroin, marijuana,
and peyote into the United Si. ■.u'S,
notw:itlistanding an apparent jud
rccog ration tiiat a ff.VL'no ’ * nee.«scd
migh t since: e.v M :c V C t.li: tj t .. of
such drugs has a nron cr p!ac c r:r-
tain rdirious cere a: o'rues v * *»: -U nre
p rrscri’ocd in both the Koran and
Bitile.. See U.S. v . Sinrat::, *? !!i F.
895 (’5th Cir. 197 l )» and otacr cares
therein cited.
Accordingly, in Situ at:on 3 d-.cr
the separately incorporated scho; i nor
Z itself is operated exclusive:;, for
charitable purports and neither <" afi-
fics as a charity for Federal in.-nme
tax deduction and exemption ru :; ,-.rs
under sections DO and 501(e) (5, of
the Code.
The conclusions readied in the
Revenue Ruling would be the same if
a convention or association of riuuvhes
were substituted for the . iganizetfons
qualifying as churches referred to in
Situations 1, 2, and 3.
26 cm 1.501(c) C) - ; : Ori.mUsti.
an;ur.is.’d end ope: rued /•;» relic:
table, scientific, tc . ' ina ; , i r public tee-!';,
literary, or educational purpose , or for
15 0
I ill. Administrative,. Procedural,, and Miscellaneous
cTcS î'cnCQ'ritervN0v,v-153: 'wrsuidcnu Uw?s;norf^»!tfy. as-^.-or.-
jifl̂ fivc ■ksvsnrticr ~?AV '1375)1 /' ^anizMiotjVs«î tf-:ft̂ :h.-’i'cdcraf. in--
■ v ’ / ' ------ Rev. Rui; 71-447, 1971-2-
I
ig fe ttv c ixSvem acr v
Ij^Sttwide Auinorviy to .. 1 e a c 12 - * ■
■nflir;avicraa -.•efer,-CstS3ia,*Qd- ted,.
Pursuant to authority vestec/ir. the
bauuissimicr of Internal Revenue by*
t im iW Z , 26 CFR 1.4112 arid Trees-
l^ b c p a ru n e n t O rder No. laO-eT,
ic nationwide authority to determine
g | Intercompany and-intracommsanv
jjp .fr r prices of foiei'-ru-produced
rude oil and products refined there-
K , and /
The. acceptance of the.average
ht rate assessment (A.F.R.A.) as
intercompany/charge for shipping
crude oil and
come tax.’
■ C.B. 230. • y. ;
;.';02 .A- ’school/ ihystt'shev,~,-atliriha--
lively bach thru it-.-has. adop.tcd- a.
racially nondiscriminatory policy as
to students that is made known to the
tree era l public and that since the
adoption uf that. policy it has operated
IV/Cua
ipeedn-»-
IMjorcign-prcd)
^RLucts j
deJccntcd toHereby the Regional
m x bona tide Tnanucr in accordance
therewith.
.03’ internal Revenue Sendee ex
perience ' with private schools has
shown a need for more specific guide
lines to insure a uniform approach
to the determination of whether a
private school has a racially nondis-
crim im torv policy as to student;.
-.04 This Revenue Procedure does
not apply to public schools.
. same .meaning, it-.has- in .’section l ■ 0 ■
v'i-h')'('l)’.( Ad (iiV of die Code. • ’:
Se c. 4. G u!of.L!nf..s.
.01 Organizational rtijz:*cmcn!i. A
school must include a statement m its
"charter,- .fcytows/ o r' otlier"’goverriing
instrument, or in a resolution of its
governing l ady, that it uas a raciauy
nondiscriminatory policy as to students
and therefore does not uiscrunmate
against applicants and students on tne
basis of race, color, and national or
ethnic origin.
.02 Statement
school must include a statement re us
racially noiKhscrnninatory policy as to
students in a!! its brochures •' nd
catalogues dealing with student ad
missions, uiograms, and scholaisiups-
1 Policy. Kv'-ry
A statement substantially sun
niswongr, Southwest Region.
This delegation does, not extend to
,-s pendihg before the T, rated States
f Couc(, nor those witrtin the juris-
S.on ct the Department of Justice.
lay net be rcbcic-
Sec. 2
.01
D'.nxtTroNS.
Rev. RuL 71-4-17 states the t a
the Notice described in subsection ; a)
of section 4.03, infra, will be accept
able for this purpose. Further, every
school must include a reference to its
students means:
This authority
id. /
•Donald C.. Ai.oxAttnr.a,
.^Commissioner.
0 hv the Oir.cc of th;
iber G, <575:.•over
^published in the Psue
RcePicr for November p|C65)
Federal Reenter
a.m., and
of 'he Federal
7, 1975, 40 F.iv.
the school adir.iti the students of an
to -ail the rishts. privilege-, proc.raans. an
activities sv.-ncrr.ilv accorded or mice
able to students at thit :c:i'“
.school riecs di'Crimtuii
0/ race’ in adnuiustrauon ef
policies, acmisMon* pot
as to racially r.or.discriminatorv prvhcvi ;n
other written advertising titat it a:cs
,y fuGC as a means of infomnng ?rospc: t:vc
a. Fr.ci students of its programs. T"ne foil •jv.*-
1 Rvaii*
the ia.j; refim itees will he accept r.rie:
. . r
on the nasis
is .-cducaticr.al
ics. scholar:.!; i;j
and lean prr<!ram«, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
discrimi1 iicService consider
CFR CO 1.201: Raiinit and dtUrmina-
on Uliirs.I Part I, Station 501; 1.501 (o) {3)-l.)
f t . Proc. 75-20 1
PurposeEion 1.
I This Revenue Procedure sets
s guidelines and recordkeeping^
reemirements for detemtining whether
flfvatc schools that are applying far
pKogmtion of exemption from Federal
income tax under section 501 (c)(3 )
I he Internal Revenue Code of 193-t,
■ arc presently recognized as exempt
ram tax, have racially nor.cttscruntna-
^^-y policies as to students.
Pc. :. Background.
.U; A school that docs not have a
■pally nondiscriminatory policy as
f a.<« ..low *. TUi-un. aw.* n«- «, ms.
nation on the basis of race to induce
discrimination an the oasis of coior
and national or ethnic origin; A policy
of a school that favors racial minority
groups with respect to admissions,
facilities and programs, and financial
assistance wilt not constitute discrimi
nation on tire basis of race when the
purpose and effect is to promote the
establishment and maintenance of that
school’s racially nondiscriminatory
policy as to students.
.03 A school that selects students
an the basis of membership in ̂a re
ligious. denomination or unit thereof
will not be deemed to have a dis
criminatory’ policy if memnersmp *n
the denomination or
all
unit is open to
nondiscriminator/on a raciaiiy
basis.
.0-4 For purposes of this revenue
procedure, the term “school has the
The M school atiimts student* o.
any race, color, and national or cth.mc
origin.
.03 Publ ic i ty . The. school must make
its racially nondiscriminatory policy
known to all segments of the geiwral
community served by the scucd
I The school must use one of the
following two methods to satisfy this
requirement:
(a) The school may publish a
notice of its rncituly noncis-.r.!.. -—*
torv policy in a newspaper of gcrmral
circulation that serves ail racial mg-
nimts of the community. 1 his publica
tion must be repeated at least ^emee
annually during the ported of the
school's’elicitation for students or. in
the absence of a solicitation uiogmin.
during the school's registration period.
Where more titan cite communit z is
sewed hv a school, the school mnv
publish its notice h. those ncw>p.,pers
• hat arc reasonably likely to be '.can
bv all racial segments ot^ the c im
munities that it ser es. The nonce
must appear in a section of the rmvi-
4 5
U n J -
ft must be captioned in at least 12
japint bold face type as a notice of
H iruii'm uiiiiatitry policy as to students,
qmd,, its text rmi- t • be printed in at
-least-- ,14 . pgira .typo, •’ The
f ltticc xviil be acceptable:
® NOTICE -Or
n
follow-ins' ■
■ AS TO STUDENTS
Hie Nf schi-ol admit* stmtrms of race,
cul-T, Rational and eu in ii origin to u;i the
jjgrhts, oriviie;;cs, programs, and activities
^ K cra ily accorded or made avail.iHe t-.
gMcicnts at tile school, it d.**s not dij—
criminate on tlie bans u£ rat-, rnior, na
tional and ethnic orient in administration
I [its rduenttimai policies. aiimi'-.ions p«>h-
F. scholarship anti lo.nr orr-crntio. anti.
Hetic and other schtxii-admuviMcred urograms.
f
(b) The schooi may use the broad-
;t mediaft to
*
alt
K
!7C its racially
tondiscnimnatory policy if this use
askes such fioruiiscrimiifaiory policy
g M n vn to all segments of titc general
^cttinnmity the school ser.es. if this
ncttiod is chosen. the schooi must
itle documentation that the menus
ivhich tilts policy was comttmni-
aled to ail segments of titc general
imunity was reasonably expected
he effortjvc. In this rase, appro-
rime documentation would include
i^ics of the tapes or script used and
■ B rels show mg that there was an
i^mquate number of announcements,
’tat- they were made during hours
■Min the announcements were likely
^Hb<‘ communicated to all segments
f (lie general community, that they
of suificietu duration to convey
message clearly, and that they
trre broadens; rut radio or televisiciii
adens hkcly to be listened to by
tantinl numbers of mcmliers of all
hi segments of the general cotn-
untty. Announcements imi.it be made
ifig tlie period of the school's
tation for students or, in the
wen re of a solicitation program, dur-
he school's registration period,
t'uummiration of a racially non-
rimmntory jjoliry .as to students
y a school to leaders of racial groups
je sole means of public ity generally
net be considered effective to
•ike titc policy known to all segments
■i-iiie community.
T tt^ o ty T u n foi.owing paragraphs
applies:
(a) If for tin* preceding three vents
the enrollment of. a parochial or ndicr
chtirclirTciaigd .scimpt consists-of sto-
-tlciHs. at ionst 75 percent of whom are
members of the sponsoring religious
denomination or unit, the school may-
make known its raciaily iiondiscrimi*
natory policy in witatever newspapers
or circulars the religious denomina
tion o r unit utilizes tn the communities
from which the students are drawn.
These newspapers and circulars ru.iv
be those distributed by* a particular
religious denomination or unit or by
art association that represents a num
ber of religious organizations of the
same denomination. If, however, the
school advertises in newspapers of
general circulation in the community
or communities from which its stu
dents are drawn and paragraphs- fb)
and (c) of this subsection arc am ap
plicable to it. then it must comply
with paragraph fa) of subsection ! of
this section.
(b) If a sciioo! customarily draws
a substantial percentage of its students
nationwide or world wide or from a
large geographic section or sections of
the United States and follows a
racially nondiscriminatory policy us to
students, the publicity requirement
may be satisfied by complying with
section 4.02, supra. Such a school may
demonstrate that it follows a racially
nondiscriminatory policy within the
meaning of the preceding sentence
either by showing that it currently
enrolls students of racial minority
groups in im jningful numbers or,
when minority students arc not en
rolled in meaningful numbers, that its
promotional activities arid recruiting
efforts in each geographic area were
reasonably designed to inform students
of ail racial segments in the general
communities within the area of the
availability of the school. Titc ques
tion whether a school satisfies the
preceding sentence will be determined
on the basis of the facts and circum
stances of each case.—
(c) If a school customarily draws
its students from local communities
and follows a racially nondiscriinma-
plying with section 4.0?, rrc/.r-, Each
•a school may demon-tram 1dial It
follows a rueinilv nundkirir:: r.ator /
policy within the meaning of >; pre-
ceding sentence hy showing tij.it it
currently enrolls students of id. ...!
rmnortiy groups in meaningful num
bers. The question whether a sehr-m
satisfies the preceding sentence will be
determined on the basis of titc facts
and circumstances of each case. One
of the facts and circumstances that the
Service will consider is whether tL-
school's promotional activities ar.d re
cruiting efforts in each area were
reasonably designed to inform students
of ail racial segments in the cvnemi
conttmtimics within the area < f the
availability of the school. The S; rvicc
recognizes that the failure by a
school drawing its students from local
communities to enroll racial mi;, -s: tty
group students may not r.eces'.iruv
indicate the absence of a racially non-
discriminatory policy as to students
when there are relatively few ,--r no
such students in these communities.
Actual enrollment is, however, a
meaningful indication of a racially
noudiscniuin.V.ory policy in a icm-j
munity in which a public school nr
schools became sub jo,.t to a clesegi
tior. order of a federal court other
wise expressly became obligated t>.
implement a desegregation plan under
the terms of any wtit-ten contract or
other commitment to winch any
Federal agency was a party.
The Service encourages -chock to
satisfy cite puhiicitv requirement by
the methods described in suhmrrcr.
1 at this section, rcgar.i'.c-s cf w:.r* :rr
a schooi considers itself w.dua sub
section 2, because it helioses a c
methods to be tiic most edeeuvr to
make known a schools Kni.uly r.- n*
discriminatory policy. In tins w eird
it is each school’s responsibility to de
termine whether patagta;--!: ' a ; , 1>4,
or (c ) of subsection .1 applies to it.
On audit. ;i school mu;st be prepared
to demonstrate that the f.uiurc to
publish its racially no;■:(ii*cr::i;iti.uc ry
poucy in accoruance '•
l of tills section was justified bv tne
application to it of 1 irn'rmph fn.;,
\ o j , or (c) 0 * SUGSCCt!ton 2. Furtlu r,
4 7
• f 3 d - / ■ —
ijc prepared to demorr-
m m \ i has" publicly disavowed-
P J a tc r f ' any 'statements pur- _
w havtr- -beer* -.made- oiymh*/.
MK'r Nos- ce.ibfir u! i'^Ta f that
HRi-.y .to itv. publicity -of a.
iberutona.cnr.y policy as-;
.. . to. tfic extent- that Vac '
its pnn.bTphl' cthcirdVAveftr
of such statements.
^ g U t i 's and Programs. A
§ j l s* be able to shew that ail
programs and fatal.ties .ire
a racially nondisemnina.-
of racial discrimination in employment
cf Tacukv ar.ti.1 administrative s ta ll. is
indicative of a racially notufiscvrittma*
• tory'^wiipysasyto s'txittentS;- ;; • 1 '.
. '''.On Failure Jto^'.compty': i'-Tthire.y to-
comply with- the guidelines Vvili ardi-
• naril.y..rysuit ih-thc proposed rcvocahccq
of the exctnpc sett us ’’ofTt sch.noryttv
■ acrcrdaTTcc- with 'ih^'prdwtrfttrrt*- -sot-'
forth in Rev. Proc. 72*4, 1972-L C.LL
7CG.
TAX
m
W lo lc n h fo and loan programs.
R rai rule, all scholarship or
parable benefits procurable
any given school must be
d on a racially nondiscr.mina*
Their availability on tltis
j H t be known throughout the-
^com m unity being served by the
la ju i should be referred tc in
jjjHcity required by tins section
for that school to be con-
jet racially nondiscrirninatory as to
■BConsi.ucnt with section 3.02,
IpLolarships and loans that are
| pursuant to nnanciut .issistanc'.
I f: favoring memenrs of one
I racial mutoriiy croups that -
igued to. promote, a scncol^s
llwiondlscrlihinritor.- policy writ
■ i-rse!v affect tite school’s cx-
P R t u s . ' financial assistance pro-
:S favoring membcis of one or
nBn.ti groups that do not supuf-
B ld e ro g a ic front the school s
fly ’ r.cndiscriminatory policy
ajk-. will not adscrsely affect the
I'M ex- mpt status.
^crriiVicutfon. An individual
cubed to take official action - on
g o f a school that claims to be
I f " nondiscrirninatory as to stu-
3 must certify annually, under
ittes of perjury, on an Internal
I R c form to be issued, that to
^of his knowledge and berief tite
x ih a s satisfied the applicable rc-
l^fents of sections 4.01 through
tiiis Revenue Procedure.
Yl Fee *•*>and Step. The existence
W racially discriminators- policy
|aspect to employment of faculty
administrative staff is indicative
racially discriminatory po.u-y as
dents. Conversely, the aoser.ee
Sue. 5. A rrucA Tioss for.
CXLI’T STATUS.
.01 Information required to be
submitted. Every school hhr.tr an ap
plication for recognition of a tax
exempt status n u e mppU tnc Service
with the following information:
1 Racial composition, as of die
current academic year and projected
so far as m.-.v be feasible for the sub
sequent academic year, of— .
(a) Student body, and
(h) Faculty and administrative
stall",
2 Amount of scholarship and loan
funds, if any, awarded to students
enrolled and racial composition of
students who have . received such
awards.
.3 A listing of 'incorporate!*, found
ers-, board members, and', donors- of
land or buildings, wu.cthcr individuals
or organizations,
4 A statement whether any of tnc
organizations describee in suosecnon
,01-3 of tills section have at the time
die application is fued an objective cf
maintaining segregated public or pri
vate school education anci, it so, a
statement whether any of the individ
uals described in subsection .01-3 of
this section are officers or active mem
bers of such organizations at tire time
the application is field.
5 Year of organization.
.02 Limitations.
I Fcr purposes of section 5.01, tnc
racial composition of the student both.,
faculty, and administrative stall may
be an estimate based on the best in-
fot motion readily available to the
school, without requiring student
applicants, students, faculty, or ad
ministrative start to submit intormn-
tion to the school that the school
otherwise does not require. However,
a statement of the method by which
the. racial, composition was determined
. must be supplied. ..- ■■
b.'*"'T--3'rhq'-frVformat!pn requtrciT xo: hc>
■submitted under section. 5.U1 ' should ,
■ not identify’ individual ..students .or
• tu'emhers- d T-ftc.-’facvityatid admiuU- -..
,. ;rasi;.e st-ruT.. •.-. _ ..... m u \ .
Sec. 5. Public complaints of
RACIAL nts crimination.
The Service is interested in receiv
ing ar.v information time an exempt
urivate school is not operating under a
raciaily nondiscrirninatory pc'.icy as to
students, including any judicial or
administrative rielerrmnnuniis to this
cifect. Tltis information may be sent
to the local District Director nf inter
nal Revenue or to the Commissioner
of internal Revenue, 111' Constitu
tion Avenue, N.\'>., Y ashmgtoa, D .d.
20224, Attention E:EO.
Sec. 7. R«coRD:;F.EPtNG require
m e n t s .
.01 Specific r'-cords. Except as pro
vided in section 7.03, each exempt
r.-r.vnto school must maintain .vr a
minimum period of three yea.is, on-
ginning with, the year alter tnc tear
o f compilation or acquisition, me
.fTowing -records .lor the use o-. u.e
Service on proper request:
! Records indicating the racial
ocxnuosition of the student boc.y,
facultv, and administrative stun tor
each, academic year.
2 Records sufficient to document
th.at scholarship and cth.er financial
assistance is awarded on a raciaily
nondiscrirninatory basis.
3 Copies of all brochures, cata
logues, and advertising dealing with
student admissions, programs, and
scholarships. Schools advertising na
tionally or in a large geographic seg
ment or segments of the United Siam*
need only maintain a record su m .-n t
to indicate when and in wi.at pi........
lions their advertisements were pl.weu.
4 Copies of all materials used by or
on behalf of the school to solicit con-
ti ibut’.ons.
.02 [.imitation.
i For purposes of section
raci.R-R ccmnositioa of die student body
- H d - .
40
nc
B
be an estimate bas.-u on the best m-
brm.atlon readily available .to the
|,hot'!, without retpuffug stuUrut- np-
.piicant$,.jt^dcnts»..fn<t#U.y. .<•? admitvs-
5-rii{T1' tarswbirtifc; rnf>
p B i e school.- that the school;otherwise
^^aoes not require.’ ' ’ro'e.e.ich. acattnvsir: /
jeSr,aHtJwfcver., a record ojf ihtK!^etiiovi-..l
]v(...\vluch-.:facbTl: comjt.ositi.on, as- dgv ..
bnnir.iid must be maintained. A
school m ay'not discontinue maintnin-
■dRae a svstem of rerun's that reflects
IM f-.C’.r.] composition of students, facility, .
” and administrative stntF use*! on No-
^ ^ e tn b e r 5, 1975, unless.it. substitutes
§ ■ different system tliat compiles sub-
^ s ia n tia iiy the same information, with
out the advance approval of the in-
riBfirnal Revenue Service.
P® 2 Tire Service docs not require that
a school release personally identifiable
gjftrcords or personal information con* .
■Bhined therein except in accordance
wit it the reepuirements of the “ Family
^E d u ca tio n a l Rights and Fiivacy Act
■ i 107-1," 20 U.S.C.. ? I232g{ 1974).
^S im ila rly , the Service docs not require
j school to l;eep recoids the mainte-
H^Piance of which- is
IW ta tc or federal law.
prohibited under
P
.03 Excetjtiam.
lined in section
Fnde.pcnucn:
i r.e - m
records de-
v maintained for Internal .
■Revenue.Service used!
A 1 Substantially the same intorma-
HriCn that each of these iccurds would
provide has been inciuucd :n n report
JB<r reports fled in accordance with
H a w with an agency or agencies of
M-'cderal, state, or local government,
*?nd this infc i mat ion is current within
| : n .c >ear, and
P 2 The school maintains copies of
these reports from which this informn-
dPicm is rendilv vljtairuii'ie. Records
Pllescrtbcd in section 7.01 providing
iKionnatton not inciuucd trv reports
JBfded with an agency or agencies must
■ jc maintained by die sdiocl for Serv
ice use.
jm .0? Failure to maintain record'..
H raiiuve to maintain or to province
r upon the proper request tlsc required
.rec o rd s and information will create
H i presumption that the organization
P has failed to comply with these .cuiue-
i:ncs.
The United St Uex District Court
for. the District oi Columbia has or
dered snceiiic' guidelines anti terorU-
btouirup Aeqidi-enir.iUTi; for ■ hfi.yHSsSppi.
tjVriyates ichooiu.' ’Cree-rfi'.'/vi • Corstuiltyp
330. P; Suiip-. I I30, •afTdf sab' nam.
Coif .y. Green, f 104■■ U.S-. 997 f 1971}..
ToVtnd cstcTit. that Thr'-rgcpnmtncnt*.
,ei .tltfh Cowtt;?. .Order.: vary,from.' titer
guidelines and recordkeeping require
ments set fouith in this Revenue Pro
cedure, the Court's Order is control
ling tor Mississippi schoois..
Sec. 9. Effective date.
.01 Section 4.02 is not applicable
until February 4, 1975.
.02 To the extent that the- pub
licity requirements set forth in sec
tion -1.03, sai’ra, differ from those set
forth in Rev. Proc. 72-54, 1972-2 C.B.
834,. they shall not be effective until
a school's fust period of solicitation for
students or, in the absence of a solicita
tion program, dining the school’s am
registration period beginning after
November 5, 1975.
.03 The recordkeeping requirements
set-forth in section 7, supra, shnil net
be effective until January 1, 197G_
Sec. 10. Effective on other docu
ments,
broc. 72-54 is sunerseded.
r, tuiii’uvtvu.
Rev.
Retirement Income Security Pet of
1974 (Public Law 'JJ -Ifn l, approved
September 2'f 19*7■ I-, (heremafu r re
ferred. to. as-“ the A c t " ) •••
Sec. 2-x R.'vgKuaouNo ANO' CEdKk'.i.•
■ i n f o r m a t i o n
.01 R e v . Proc. : J2-7, 2572-i'. ( l i t ,
■ T15, • contains procedures relating- to
'the issuance of'opinion tetters as to the'
acceptability of the form of master
and prototype plans designed to in
clude scif-cmpioycd individuals.
.02 Rev. Proc. 74-39, 1974-2. CM.
494, was issued to temporarily limit
the issuance of opinion lette:s until
guidelines could be developed lor de
termining whether plans meet die re
quirements of section
as amended bv the
75-33, 1975-39 l.R.T
the issuance of opii
respect to those mast
plans for which .quit
devcioned. Additional guidciira.s have
now been developed permitting the
publication of this Revenue Pro -edu:e
in which opinion
' ms
401 of the Code,
Ac:. Rev. i’roc.
1. 17 autl.orircd
lion Ictte.s wuh
o . r* i- *.j-a f ,pj* ^
:!c!ines had been
extending trie area
letters on rr.astc
may be issued.
Ot.c. a. Rf! :s and on.vrort
; s C.r !i 601.201; Rulings and dtter~.lr.a-
.'.v i utters.• .! i‘to Fart l, Sections ■iOl, 403; 1.401-1,
1,403 ( a ) -1. J
Rev. F r e e . 7 5 - 5 1 1
\
Section 1. Purpose.
.01 This Revenue Procedure pro--'
vides supplemental and revised pro
cedures of the Internal Revenue Serv
ice pertaining to the issuance of opin
ion letters bv the National Office as to
the-acceptability of the form of certain
master and prototype pension, annuity,
and profit-sharing plans that include
.mil-employed individuals, and the
status for exemption of related trusts
or custodial accounts.
.02 This revision is made to permit
die issuance of opinion letters with re
spect to the acceptability of the form
of these plans under sections 401 and
501 fa) of the Internal Revenue Code
.01 Except for the plans de:eribcd
•in-subsection .02 below, the N..Uon th
Office at the avrv.ee, upon rmuett,
will furnish a written ephver. a; to the
iccc*jtbintv ^or ”iir.*oci of see*.c*22
401 of the Cede, ns mr.'-nded by ti:e
Act, and section 50i ( a ) ) of the fur; i
of any defined contribution master ■ r
prototype plan d 'dgncd to inch'd:
self-employed individuals wlto m.’ z
adopt the plan. St the term at plan
includes a master trust or cr -cdi.J
account, a ruling will a!-o be issued
with respect to the exempt status of
the trust or custexlial account which
fomns part of the n’AS tor Dinn.
,02 Subsection .01 a7.hove do*'S not
permit tlie issuanc;c o t Oj ■ inion icttcr >
arid rulings with re>< t to tiic 'OliO">D *
in' :̂ -
! ( , \ 1 ) a plan »ubn: i 11 c c1 hy a sr ̂r.c o ■“ *
ing organication oti .or 1than v, tt .'.Cr c r
lire;!cs>ioi\ai r.ijocui.lion A l, , ••vuhla
tr.u meaning of sect . 011 r 0I 'Ui - 1 ), nn
irsuranci! ro;;i[um\\ or ._ -U l t . “
> a;. « • TIH-1419, d4i«4 No*cms» « r }0. iOTS. %CStinCIlt CO^^p l̂^y, j
A S ' d
4 9
L /
9 -
Mr. J o h n A. Buses
th:it the i cervi
the basis oi: tz
on the basis of color
o r ig in ►"
o considers discrimination on
to include, discrimination
national or r, f* hn i r*w- U i i . 11-
b. Prohibit employment discrimination .
Section 4.07 of Revenue Procedure 75-50 states
■ that the "existence of a racially diserj-min-..torv
polic-v with respect to employment of faculty art
administrative staff is m dicative of a racially
discriminatory policy as to students. Convers<_I) ,
the absence of racial discrimination.^ ei.nl o;.pu'-
c£ faculty and administrative staff is indicative
of a racially nondiscriminatcry policy as to stutor
c. jT)7 2 ~ P roe, no It u U-:crrairnati~on in the proy
’services based on
The underlying discussion 197at page
:l notable
O £ tile
Commission's report outlines save.
statutory exceptions to the Title lx rule amt
otherwise generallv prohibits sexual discrimina
tion in any educational prograntor activity
receiving Federal 'financial assistance.
these statutory exceptions were giyen^Ui . 1 miccc
in the comprehensive Title IX regulations^ recent../
issued. In view of the number and breadth ci such
exceptions and the continuing absence of judicial
pre ween f • c*
nv . . — — ,that would support a contrary conclusion
the Service continues to believe that sexua 1 dis
crimination in education has not yet come to be
incompatible with charitable exemption status as a
matter of any well-established federal public policy
d. Ronulro multiple publication bv all private
school s or a nuiuu.se.rirni.r.atorv poll cv
‘ Section 4 of Revenue Procedure 75-50 requires
that every school "include a statement oi ies
racially no ud i s c rinin a to r y policy as tc students
_47c/-
___ _ « -n r t - - 1
Ir. John .A. Buses
in all. ito brochures .and .catalogues .dealing tlx
' student 'admission's, programs, and scholarships.”
Further, each school must make its racially uon-
discrimivuitory policy knov.Tt to all segments of
the general community served by the school. With
certain exceptions, all schools must satisfy this
requirement by publishing a notice in a nevspape:
or bv broadcastin innotmccmn :s as to 'their
racially noruiiscriminatory policy. Specific
guidelines arc given for either method, including
a requirement teat publication be repeated at
least once annually and the announcements be made
during the period of the school’s^solicitation_
for students or, in the absence of a solicitation
program, during the school's registration period.
Rocruirc all tnx-cxcmnt private schools to collect
and-c ro 177- cTa ~ f ft e ton I c a nos r x a a to on see dents
laci.ij.Lv, ace lie-
or'i'aTrjj.Tff.Tr"
i:or ariimssiou, . D1C. ll-
a u.1 re
.With certain limitations and exceptions,
section 7 of Revenue edure 75-50 require:
that schools' maintain y”'for the" use' Of':'the ’ Service"
upon proper .request, records to indicate- the racia
composition o f ‘the student body, faculty, and ad
ministrative staff for each academic year and
record? sufficient, to document that scholarships
and other financial assistance axe awarded on a
racially t r e n d iscriminatory basis.
Recommendation 2
Yoti recommended that we Increase tnc size and, qualify
our enforcement effort in the private school area-. Specif!
suggestions included:. /
a . Funand exnmrnitva11 ons to at least 107, of exempt
nriva.t*
select ion ■
- and provide gtiicel mes aor yyjdft
;ettoo J.;; .
Our examination program for fiscal 1976 provi
for the examination of 1 0 % of nonchurch-related
- t f y - M
John A. Hu;ot>-
b.
schools exempt'under'’individual rulings or
■daterminations , of, vhLein at ..'least. 50.7, ’nave net •
been,'previousJ.y. exami nod.-.- •• Schoui-s- v.-ill . be selected
.:on the basis .9 if .Information. contained. on our
"Exempt' Organi.relIon Master File, supplemented
by complaints received and each key district's
knowledge of local conditions.
Dove Ion f i c 1 d i 1 s t rue t ; cm,-: defining what should
be covered 1 r. an ecTauTT-.atsou.
c„
Vie arc. now finalizing private school examination
guidelines and a private school examination checksheed
to conform our examination procedures to the require
ments of Revenue Procedure 75-50. Thus, when the
guidelines are issued, examiners will have compre
hensive instructions for reviewing all the key
factors covered in the-Revenue Procedure.
Require immediate corrective action where a
xr am,-— ------------- ----- ----------—Conauct rot l.ov:-up •examination-: w *, i . * * ’uyv-’s-n | t enr n t w , -w aV'itwv J.
is j.ounc; ana corrective action ia V) Tr>l i • ̂*■’; Cl *
1! a
When a school is
i. VO P. n i* r-r\ r> n n ti 1
found to be in nonccmpliancc
opportunity to clarify, or
d- practice's' 'in' order to reta
unwillingits tax exemption. If a school is unable or unwiH
to conform to nondiscrimina.tory requirements, it
evidence and be heard inis enti h 1 0d to presen taccord;:l ;C3 V;'ith regu l.ar
ever, v Ln . sch.oo I has
adminis »- 1*Cit 3* ff\ an I'M —l L r
to nond 1 z ri**W J-ii a •—o ry re
proceed c as expeel.itious
How-
availed itself of all its
and has not: conformedirhts n '1' n°■ -s>iiU’irarucnLs * Lac rvi r.p
.y as possible to revoke tnc
school's exempt status. The Service has procedures
for rccommending a future examination of any exempt
organization. In our private school examination
guidelines. \;e v/llL emphasize the need to recommend
future examinations for private schools where ncu-
comnl i.anee h.as been found and corrective action has
b e c n r> r o m used.
*e</ r* r~ »■
' tir. John A. Buggs
. •R-O.c.o nyac iK-i aw % o :V3
You -rhcor^cndocl -that-' -the,- Service ap-p-ly. tlpe.same _ s tagdhrci.s
:.'ahrf. tiro cedurtisY - to - 'Q htir c h -s p o n s o r erf ■ n r i v Schools- ns axe
^apprfied • to- -ai-1-: ©.the-r; private 'Schdo.l j'~and•ftYatr .re ' priority
Lo re vie
s choo1s .
a br; cross section of church-sponsored private
Revenue Ruling 75-231 provides that church-related school;
are subject to the requirement of a racially nor.discriminatory
policy as to students in order to qualify for exemption from
Federal iuc
provides fo
.a t'P V cl- t ♦ Cur fisca1 year 197G examina11o n p ror..ram
the ex amin at:ion 0f some church-rel ated school s in
1stCut w1t- L\ the effcctiv■n> dates in section 9 of
durc 7 5- JDV- * GenQ ITally, we plan to emphas ize the
elementa V*y and se condary’ • 3chools.
V, e c. o;m:■ e h d a i r o n
You recommended that IRS and HE
standards, and coordinate private sch
information-sharing mechanism should
W develop uniform complianc
ooL reviews and that' an
be adopted to avoid any
duplication of effort.
•Service do not have identical legislative responsibilities in-
the .private-;. . a c h p o , ! - i n e c . e s - . s a - r i l y ddjdrtsvphew
:ddgt'e'e'vpf '’uniformity; possible* _ .However.j . our staff • members have
met with - HEW Personnel’''several times 'within the last year. As
As we have previously discussed with you. H
identical 1;
:03
p'o
isiative resoonsibiliti;
a result of these nicetings •
We are on the mail ihg list to receive the Inter-
a g e n c y R c do r t and the List of Title VI Assurances
Received that are published by■ HEW's Office for
Civil Rights.
We have obtained information on racial and ethnic
classifications that will be useful Lo our examiners
when disseminated in our private school examination
guidelines*
4 Mr. John A. Butrr r* <r
'M Vv • * p Vs- n\~ i - w - - -n. ~f *' *f A A n t in in ■ c A' K 1: c man ,t n-r v* n n.c l ■•- 5 o •-> ® 11 d a_ ru- ... -••••• A ■ - -^7y ;...rmTOirrg^-?rYecbm Education^•••-. 7
• .' • ■'•• ■•■•■•■ 77'^ J~~;i sent ;■ to " each. 6 f. our ..regional■ and . t
> district. of ugy reference.\ to0 1 ..,.̂ y.en ,Lpousr.,:
■ ••• be csi.-ocinl.lv' he'lpiu'l ‘in xdcntrlying chur^rrreriatea
schools for inclusion in our examination program.
as in the past,- v:e arc continuing to furnish HEW a monthly
list of private schools that na\ ■>
Concludin' Remarks
been recognized as tax-exempt.
You may be interested to know that, in addition to our
contacts with HEW, we have met witn oft~.Ci.als o.n tne ‘-ia
of Agriculture and the n -i)d .. '-n .L tl. Justice to‘explore the
av^ilaKilitv of private school data of possible valuator audit
s e l e c t i o n purposes. -We also plan to incorporate tne Provision,
of Revenue Ruling 75-231 and Revenue Rrocecurc_/0-0O 1 ^ 0 c, - • , icy i Q exemnt organization forms, andtraining material., a,jiic„ - t - . t.rh-S l arpp] icable portions of the Internal Revenue Manual, hhila these W v e r o not specifically mentioned tn your recof .enc.o..
your recornsicndations. .
kind -v-O r‘” rvy~r> ‘E ■ . ’ • * . ■ '•1. t. a*, t tv 0 ̂
- y • ■ ■ jo- lip; •'
Sincerely,
< / r Aicxcaci
j s / Dcciula t* - <de:
Commissioner
Enclosures (2)
APPENDIX E
Form i
(OctoOer 1976)
t)epaftm#nt of the Treasury nternai Revenue Service
... m wacrai mmserrmrm
for a Private School Exempt from Federal income Tax
(For Use by Organizations That Do Not File Form 990)
Ullll 14
to Public Inspection
For IRS v
use ONLY f
For the period beginning , 19 , and ending , 19
■1(a) Name of organization which operates, supervises and/or controls school(s) (P) Employer identification number
(see instruction F)
Address (number and street)
r City or town, State and ZIP code
5(a) Name of central organization holding group exemption letter covering the schooi(s). (if the same as the organi
zation in 1(a) above, write “Same” and complete 2(c).) If the organization in 1(a) above holds an individual
exemption letter, write “ Not Applicable.”
(b) Employer identification number
Address (number and street) (c) Group exemption number (see
instruction G)
City or town. State and ZiP code
3(a) Name of school (if more than one school, write “ See Attached." and attach list of the names, addresses, ZIP
codes and employer identification numbers of the schools). If same as the organization in 1(a) above, write
, “Same.''
(b) Employer identification number,
if any
Address (number and street)r
r
City or town, State and ZIP code
Under penalties of perjury, I hereby certify that ! am authorized to take official action on behalf of the above school(s) and that to the best of my knowiedg
and belief the school(s) has (have) satisfied the applicable requirements of sections 4.01 through 4.05 of Revenue Procedure 75—50 for the period covered by this
ertification.
r (Signature) (Title or authority of signer) (Date)
Instructions
A. Who Must rile.— Every organization exempt
I or claiming to be exempt from Federal income tax
| under section 501(c)(3) of the Code 3nd operat
ing, supervising, and/or controlling a private
school (or schools) must file a certification of ra-
gr-ciai nondiscrimination, if an organization is re- 1 Jcuired to file Form 990. Return of Organization
I iExempt from income Tax. either as a separate
f return or as part of a group return, the certifica
tion wiil be made on Form 990 and not on this
form. The schooi(s) covered by a certification on
f this form must be listed as indicated in item 3.
I An authorized official of a central organization
f may file one form to certify for the school activities
of subordinates, that wouid otherwise be required
to file on an individual basis, on condition that the
Central organization has sufficient control over the
schools listed on the form to ensure their continu
ing adherence to a racially nondiscriminatory
olicy as to students.
B. When to File.— Although Rev. Proc. 75-50,
r
1375-2 C.3. 587. requires a certification of
racial nondiscrimination to be filed annually, the
first certification wiil cover the period beginning
November 6, 1975, and ending with the organize-
i don's first calendar year or fiscal period beginning
J after December 31. 1975. File the form oy the
I j iS th day of the ‘ifth month following the close of
■Sthc period.
* u. Where to File.— FUe the form with the Inter
nal Revenue Service Center. P.O. 3ox 137. Corn-
well Heights. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19020.
r
O. Certification Requirement.— Section A.06 of
Rev, Proc. 75-50 'squires an individual author
ized to take official action on behalf of a school
that claims to be racially nondiscriminatory as to
students *o certify annually, under penalties of
r
perjury, that to the zest of his/her knowledge and
aeiief “he school has satisfied the applicable -e-
qutrements of sections A,01 through A.05 of the
r Procedure.
Section 4.01 -equires a school to include a
statement in its charter, bylaws, or other govern
ing instrument, or in a resolution of its governing
body, that it has a racially nondiscriminatory
policy as to students.
Section 4.02 requires a school to include a
statement of its racially nondiscriminatory policy
as to students in ail its brochures and catalogues
dealing with student admissions, programs, and
scholarships. Further, every school must include
a reference to its racially nondiscriminatory policy
in other written advertising that it uses as a
means of informing prospective students of its
programs.
Section 4.03 requires a school to make its
racially nondiscriminatory policy known to all seg
ments of the general community served by the
school. Further, a school must be prepared to
demonstrate that it has publicly disavowed or re
pudiated any statements purported to have been
made on its behalf after November 6, 1975. that
are contrary to its publicity of a racially nondis-
criminatorv policy as to students, to the extent
that the school or its principal officials were aware
of such statements.
Section 4.04 requires a school to be able to
show that all of its programs and facilities are
operated in a racially nondiscriminatory manner.
Section 4.05 requires that, as a general rule,
ail scholarships or other comparable benefits pro
curable for use at any given school must be
offered on a racially nondiscriminatory basis. How
ever, a financial assistance program favoring mem
bers of one or more racial/ethnic groups will not
adversely affect exempt status if its operation
does not significantly derogate from the main
tenance of a racially nondiscriminatory policy as
to students.
E. Definition of Terms.— The farm “ racially
nondiscriminatory policy as to students" means
the school admits the students of any race to ail
the rights, privileges, programs, and activities gen
erally accorded or made available to students at
US. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: IBS— O -575- t 34
that school and that the school does not discrimi
nate on the basis of race in administration of its
educational policies, admissions policies, scholar
ship and loan programs, and other school-admin
istered programs.
The Service considers discrimination on the
basis of race to include discrimination on the
basis of color and national or ethnic origin.
The term '‘school” means an educational or
ganization which normally maintains a regular fac
ulty and curriculum and normally has a regularly
enrolled body of pupils or students in attendance
at the place where its educational activities are
regularly carried on. The term includes primary,
secondary, preparatory, or high schools, and col
leges and universities, whether operated as a
separate legal entity or as an activity of a church
or other organization described in section 501
(c)(3) of the Code. The term also includes pre
schools and any other organization that is a
school as defined in section 170(b)(l)(A)(ii) of
the Code.
A central organization is an organization
which has one or more subordinates under its
general supervision or control. A subordinate is
a chapter, local, post, or other unit of a central
organization. A central organization may also
be a subordinate, an example would be a state
organization which has subordinate units and is
itself affiliated with a national organization.
r. Employer Identification Number.— The em
ployer identification number (E!N) Is a nine-digit
number issued by the Service to identify organiza
tions subject to various provisions of the tax law.
G. Group Exemption Number.— The group
exemption number (GEN) is 3 four-digit num
ber issued to a centra! organization (see instruc
tion E above) by the Service to identify a central
organization that has received a ruling from the
Service recognizing on a group oasis the exemp
tion from Federal income tax of the central organi
zation and Its covered subordinates.
575-184-1