Uniform Complaint Procedures

The Board of Education recognizes that the district has the primary responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations governing educational programs.

The district's Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) shall be used to investigate and resolve the following complaints:

2. Any complaint alleging the occurrence of unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, (such as sexual harassment, sexual violence or harassment based on a protected characteristic), intimidation, or bullying against any person in district programs and activities, including, but not limited to, those programs or activities funded directly by or that receive or benefit from any state financial assistance, based on the person's actual or perceived characteristics of race or ethnicity, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information, or any other characteristic identified in  Education Code 200 [12] or 220 [13], Government Code 11135 [14], or Penal Code 422.55 [15], or based on the person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics (5 CCR 4610).

Scope and Definitions Related to Unlawful Discrimination Complaints

The district will review and address any report or complaint of unlawful discrimination involving a student, employee or third party against another student, employee or third party.  Specifically:

A “report” or “complaint” is defined as any oral or written communication to a school district employee or administrator which alleges behavior or misconduct that may constitute unlawful discrimination.  A report or complaint may include an oral report, an email, a text message or other message conveyed to a school district employee or administrator. The report or complaint does not have to be on a particular form or use specific words to identify the law which may have been violated. 

A “third party” is defined as someone who is connected to the school or the district for educational, business or extra-curricular purposes.  For example, a third party may include a vendor; volunteer; coach; or other person who is on school or district grounds during the hours of operation or who is present in the educational setting. 

4. Any complaint alleging district noncompliance with the prohibition against requiring students to pay fees, deposits, or other charges for participation in educational activities  (5 CCR 4610)
(cf. 3260 - Fees and Charges)
(cf. 3320 - Claims and Actions Against the District)

5. Any complaint alleging district noncompliance with legal requirements related to the implementation of the local control and accountability plan  (Education Code 52075)
(cf. 0460 - Local Control and Accountability Plan)

6. Any complaint, by or on behalf of any student who is a foster youth, alleging district noncompliance with any legal requirement applicable to the student regarding placement decisions, the responsibilities of the district's educational liaison to the student, the award of credit for coursework satisfactorily completed in another school or district, school transfer, or the grant of an exemption from Board-imposed graduation requirements  (Education Code 48853, 48853.5, 49069.5, 51225.1, 51225.2)
(cf. 6173.1 - Education for Foster Youth)

7. Any complaint, by or on behalf of a homeless student as defined in 42 USC 11434a, alleging district noncompliance with any requirement applicable to the student regarding the award of credit for coursework satisfactorily completed in another school or district or the grant of an exemption from Board-imposed graduation requirements  (Education Code 51225.1, 51225.2)
(cf. 6173 - Education for Homeless Children)

8. Any complaint alleging district noncompliance with the requirements of Education Code 51228.1 and 51228.2 that prohibit the assignment of a student to a course without educational content for more than one week in any semester or to a course the student has previously satisfactorily completed, without meeting specified conditions  (Education Code 51228.3)
(cf. 6152 - Class Assignment)

9. Any complaint alleging district noncompliance with the physical education instructional minutes requirement for students in elementary school  (Education Code 51210, 51223)
(cf. 6142.7 - Physical Education and Activity)

10. Any complaint alleging retaliation against a complainant or other participant in the complaint process or anyone who has acted to uncover or report a violation subject to this policy

11. Any other complaint as specified in a district policy

Retaliation and Confidentiality

The Board prohibits any retaliatory behavior or action against any person who reports, testifies about, files a complaint or otherwise participates in a District complaint, investigation or grievance process under the Uniform Complaint Procedures.  Participation in the complaint process shall not in any way affect the status, grades, or work assignments of the complainant. An individual who believes he or she has been subjected to retaliation defined herein may also file a complaint under the Uniform Complaint Procedures.

Non-UCP Complaints

The following complaints shall not be subject to the district's UCP but shall be referred to the specified agency:  (5 CCR 4611)

1. Any complaint alleging child abuse or neglect shall be referred to the County Department of Social Services, the County Protective Services Division, and the appropriate law enforcement agency.  However, the District may still be obligated to address and investigate any complaint alleging child abuse or neglect of a student by an employee or third party which took place in the educational setting.
2. Any complaint alleging health and safety violations by a child development program shall, for licensed facilities, be referred to Department of Social Services and shall, for licensing-exempt facilities, be referred to the appropriate Child Development regional administrator.
3. Any complaint alleging employment discrimination shall be sent to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.  The District Compliance Officer or Human Resources manager shall notify the complainant by first class mail of the transfer.
4. Any complaint alleging fraud shall be referred to the California Department of Education.

1. Sufficiency of textbooks or instructional materials
2. Emergency or urgent facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health or safety of students or staff
3. Teacher vacancies and misassignments
4. Deficiency in the district's provision of instruction and/or services to any student who, by the completion of grade 12, has not passed one or both parts of the high school exit examination (cf. 1312.4 - Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures)