Newport-Mesa Unified School District Governing Board recognizes that a comprehensive counseling program promotes academic achievement and serves the diverse needs of all district students. Academic programs and/or courses are available to all persons, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.