PATH TO SUCCESSFUL COMMUNICATION
See information below regarding alleged discrimination, harassment or violation of a federal or state law or regulation.
WHAT IS A COMPLAINT?
A complaint is a written statement alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying, or a violation of applicable federal or state laws or regulations. Complaints subject to the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) must be filed and processed in accordance with California Code of Regulations, Title 5, sections 4600–4687.
This page outlines the procedures for filing a complaint with the School. It includes information regarding complaint eligibility and subject matter, the School’s responsibilities, applicable policies and procedures, how to file a complaint, timelines for investigation and resolution, appeal rights, and the complaint review and investigation processes conducted by both the School and the California Department of Education (CDE). The document also describes the CDE’s investigation procedures and the issuance of investigation reports when applicable.
SCHOOL FORMAL COMPLAINT PACKET
Any staff member, parent, learner, community member or applicant who has a complaint regarding an employee, a school policy, or other condition of the School may submit the complaint by completing the Complaint form and filing it with the school director or designee. Details of the process are explained on the form.
Note: If the complaint alleges an issue of discrimination or failure to comply with certain specified State or Federal laws, please also review the Uniform Complaint Procedure to determine which form to use. The school encourages the early, informal resolution of complaints at the site level when appropriate and whenever possible. Contact the school office to reach the appropriate administrator.
UNIFORM COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
Except as the Governing Board may otherwise specifically provide in other Board policies, the uniform complaint procedures shall be used only to investigate and resolve complaints alleging violations of federal or state laws or regulations governing specific educational programs, the prohibition against requiring learners to pay fees, deposits, or other charges for participating in educational activities, and unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, as specified in accompanying Board policy.
The school’s uniform complaint procedures policy and administrative regulation shall be posted in the school office.
Procedures
All complaints shall be investigated and resolved within 60 calendar days of the School’s receipt of the complaint. (5 CCR 4631)
The Director or designee shall maintain a record of each complaint and subsequent related actions, including all information required for compliance with 5 CCR 4631 and 4633. All parties involved in allegations shall be notified when a complaint is filed, when a complaint meeting or hearing is scheduled, and when a decision or ruling is made.
For more information regarding Uniform Complaints, Please refer to the school’s board policy below.
WILLIAMS COMPLAINT PROCEDURES
A Williams Complaint is a specific type of Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) complaint that addresses concerns related to the sufficiency of instructional materials, emergency or urgent facility conditions that pose a threat to the health or safety of learners, and teacher vacancies or misassignments. Williams Complaints may be filed anonymously.
Williams Complaints should be submitted to the Executive Director, School Director, or their designee at the location where the issue occurred. The school makes complaint forms available for these types of complaints; however, a complaint will not be rejected if the official form is not used, provided the complaint is submitted in writing.
If an individual believes that a Williams Complaint requirement is not being met, a Williams Complaint form may be obtained from the school’s main office.
TITLE IX
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) enforces, among other statutes, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Title IX protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive Federal financial assistance. Title IX states:
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
For more information for filing a Title IX complaint with the School, please access the Title IX page here: Title IX Page