Formal Complaint Procedures

Title IX is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities. The new Title IX Regulations became effective August 14, 2020. At the time of this publication, the Title IX Regulations have the full force and effect of law.

Sex discrimination under the new Title IX regulations may include the following:

• Sexual harassment where an employee conditions some type of aid, benefit, or service of the District on the student's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct
• Sexual harassment where someone engages in unwelcome conduct on the basis of sex that is severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive
• Sexual assault
• Dating violence on the basis of sex
• Domestic violence on the basis of sex
• Stalking on the basis of sex

Filing a Title IX Complaint can be done in several ways:

• Report an incident to any District employee or administrator;
• Complete and submit a physical or digital copy of the the UCP complaint form (Spanish) (Mandarin) to the Title IX Coordinator or Office of General Counsel; and/or
• Send an email to the Title IX Coordinator at TitleIXCoordinator@pausd.org

Robert Andrade – Civil Rights & Legal Affairs Coordinator
Palo Alto Unified School District
25 Churchill Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 833-4248
titleixcoordinator@pausd.org

The Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) apply to complaints alleging a violation of applicable state and federal laws and regulations governing educational programs. The UCP shall be used to investigate and resolve allegations involving unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, (such as sexual harassment, sexual violence or harassment based on a protected characteristic), intimidation, or bullying.

The UCP also shall be used for allegations of a violation of specific federal and state programs that use categorical funds, such as Adult Education, Career Technical Education, Child Care and Development, Nutrition Services, School Facilities, and Special Education. A full list of complaints covered by the UCP can be found under Board Policy 1312.3.

UCP complaints can be filed by completing the complaint form (Spanish) (Mandarin) and returning it to:

Robert Andrade – Title IX Coordinator & Compliance Officer
Palo Alto Unified School District
25 Churchill Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 833-4248
titleixcoordinator@pausd.org

More information about the UCP process is available from the California Department of Education.

A Williams Complaint may be filed regarding instructional materials, emergency or urgent facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of pupils, and teacher vacancies or mis-assignments and may be filed anonymously. Williams Complaints are filed with the principal, or their designee, of the school in which the complaint arises. Schools have complaint forms available for these types of complaints, but will not reject a complaint if the form is not used as long as the complaint is submitted in writing. Additional procedures are defined in Administrative Regulation 1312.4.

Williams complaints can also be filed by completing the complaint form and returning it to:

Superintendent's Office
Palo Alto Unified School District
25 Churchill Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 329-3983
Vicky Lao

Complaints regarding school district employees may be communicated in writing and addressed to:

Superintendent's Office
Palo Alto Unified School District
25 Churchill Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 329-3983
Vicky Lao

Additional procedures are defined by Board Policy 1312.1 and Administrative Regulation 1312.1.

As provided in BP 6159.1 - Procedural Safeguards and Complaints for Special Education, complaints regarding the identification, assessment, or educational placement of a student may be directed to the Special Education Department:

Director of Special Education - Elementary/Secondary
Palo Alto Unified School District
25 Churchill Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
(650) 833-4257
Sakura Oh