Complaints, Concerns & Compliance

What is a Complaint?

A complaint is a written statement alleging discrimination, harassment, bullying, or a violation of a federal or state law or regulation. We file complaints regarding the school district, including complaints about employees, programs, materials, etc., using a variety of tools. The following information will assist stakeholders and members of the public with filing complaints appropriately so district staff can address and resolve those complaints in an appropriate manner.

Discrimination and Harassment  BP 0410

Hate-Motivated Behavior BP 5145.9

The governing board is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, martial, pregnancy, or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or genetic information; perception of one or more of such characteristics; association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

District programs and activities shall also be free of any racially derogatory or discriminatory school or athletic team names, mascots, or nicknames.

We shall investigate all allegations of unlawful discrimination in district programs and activities and resolve them in accordance with the procedures specified in the district’s Uniform Complaint Procedures.

Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) BP/AR 1312.3

The Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 1312.3 governs the Uniform Complaint Procedure (UCP) for the Saugus Union School District and 5 CCR 4600-4670 specifies the process detailed in that policy.

A UCP is completed to investigate and resolve the following:

  • Allegations of district violation of applicable state and federal law governing any program subject to UCP within the district – After School Education & Safety, American Indian Education Centers, Early Childhood Programs/Services/Assessments, California Peer Assistance and Review programs for teachers, career technical education programs, career technical training, child care and development programs, child nutrition services programs, school safety plans, consolidated categorical programs, migrant education, special education programs, California State Preschool Programs, and any other state program not funded through the local control funding formula pursuant Code 6400.
  • Allegations of any student, employee, or other person participating in a district program/activity of unlawful discrimination (such as discriminatory harassment, intimidation, or bullying) (see BP for detailed categories).
  • Allegations of district noncompliance with requirement to provide pregnant or parenting students with accommodations specified in Ed.Code 46015.
  • Allegations of district noncompliance with the prohibition against students to pay fees, deposits, or other charges for participation in educational activities.
  • Allegations of district noncompliance with any requirement related to the implementation of the local control accountability plan (LCAP), including the development of the plan and overview for parents.
  • Allegations of district noncompliance related to the development of a school plan for student achievement or the establishment of a school site council.
  • Any complaint associated with a foster youth as defined by Ed.Code 51225.2.
  • Any complaint associated with a homeless youth as defined in 42 USC 11434a.
  • Allegations of district noncompliance with the physical education instruction minutes required for elementary school students.
  • Allegations of 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.

Forms:

William’s Uniform Complaint BP 1312.4

Complaints related to sufficiency of textbooks or instructional materials, the maintenance of school facilities, and teacher vacancies or mis-assignments should use the William’s Uniform Complaint procedure and form (BP 1312.4). The form is below. Please submit it to the school site administrator responsible for the school included in the complaint. If the complaint cannot be resolved, it will be referred to the Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for additional investigation.

Forms:

Title IX Complaints

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 that:

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

Scope of Title IX
Title IX applies to institutions that receive federal financial assistance from ED, including state and local educational agencies. Educational programs and activities that receive ED funds must operate in a nondiscriminatory manner.

Some key issue areas in which recipients have Title IX obligations are recruitment, admissions, and counseling; financial assistance; athletics; sex-based harassment; treatment of pregnant and parenting students; discipline; single-sex education; and employment. Also, a recipient may not retaliate against any person for opposing an unlawful educational practice or policy, or made charges, testified, or participated in any complaint action under Title IX. For a recipient to retaliate in any way is considered a violation of Title IX. The ED Title IX regulations (Volume 34, Code of Federal regulations, Part 106) provide additional information about the forms of discrimination prohibited by Title IX.

For directions on filing a Title IX complaint, visit the US Office of Civil Rights website.

The California Dept. of Education for Equal Opportunity is responsible for ensuring compliance with state and federal civil rights laws and regulations, Title IX, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Section 504, and Methods of Administration (MOA) in CDE employment and delivery of education services. For more information, visit the California Department of Education website. California Education Code Section 221.8 (Related to Title IX).

Bullying Complaint

The Saugus Union School District does not support actions of bullying or harassment on any of its campuses. Board Policy 5131.2 governs the procedures for schools in SUSD to identify instances of bullying and resolve them to ensure the safety and well being of its students and staff. Training related to identification of bullying behavior and anti-bullying resolutions are provided to staff annually.

Seth’s Law (AB9) established in 2012 and AB 2291 established in 2019 required California schools to update their bullying policies and practices. It also created a requirement for any staff member aware of or witnessing an instance of bullying to immediately intervene. SUSD staff are aware of this expectation and support it through stopping any behavior witnessed and notifying their site administrator immediately. Training modules and resources related to anti-bullying are available through the California Department of Education (CDE) website.

SUSD staff take allegations of bullying seriously and investigate all instances of alleged bullying immediately and thoroughly. We involve students, families, and staff in the resolution process, and the school is responsible for regular follow-up to ensure that no further instances occur. Please make reports of bullying to any SUSD staff member and/or administrator. The school site administrator investigates instances of alleged bullying and refers them to the district bullying compliance officer. The Assistant Superintendent of Student Services is the compliance officer for reports of bullying and receives all forms of alleged bullying from the public or individual school sites for review and monitoring.

Forms: