It is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, equal rights, and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state. The purpose of this chapter is to prohibit acts that are contrary to that policy and to provide remedies therefor.
California School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Bullying, Harassment, or Hazing
California School Discipline Laws & Regulations: Bullying, Harassment, or Hazing
Category: Discipline Addressing Specific Code of Conduct Violations
Subcategory: Bullying, Harassment, or Hazing
State: California
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LAWS
EDC 200.
EDC 201.
(a) All pupils have the right to participate fully in the educational process, free from discrimination and harassment.
(b) California's public schools have an affirmative obligation to combat racism, sexism, and other forms of bias, and a responsibility to provide equal educational opportunity.
(c) Harassment on school grounds directed at an individual on the basis of personal characteristics or status creates a hostile environment and jeopardizes equal educational opportunity as guaranteed by the California Constitution and the United States Constitution.
(d) There is an urgent need to prevent and respond to acts of hate violence and bias-related incidents that are occurring at an increasing rate in California's public schools.
(e) There is an urgent need to teach and inform pupils in the public schools about their rights, as guaranteed by the federal and state constitutions, in order to increase pupils' awareness and understanding of their rights and the rights of others, with the intention of promoting tolerance and sensitivity in public schools and in society as a means of responding to potential harassment and hate violence.
(f) It is the intent of the Legislature that each public school undertake educational activities to counter discriminatory incidents on school grounds and, within constitutional bounds, to minimize and eliminate a hostile environment on school grounds that impairs the access of pupils to equal educational opportunity.
(g) It is the intent of the Legislature that this chapter shall be interpreted as consistent with Article 9.5 (commencing with Section 11135) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964 (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1981, et seq.), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681, et seq.), Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Sec. 794(a)), the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1400 et seq.), the federal Equal Educational Opportunities Act (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1701, et seq.), the Unruh Civil Rights Act (Secs. 51 to 53, incl., Civ. C.), and the Fair Employment and Housing Act (Pt. 2.8 (commencing with Sec. 12900), Div. 3, Gov. C.), except where this chapter may grant more protections or impose additional obligations, and that the remedies provided herein shall not be the exclusive remedies, but may be combined with remedies that may be provided by the above statutes.
EDC 218.
(a) No later than July 1, 2021, the department shall develop resources or, as appropriate, update existing resources for in-service training on schoolsite and community resources for the support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) pupils, and strategies to increase support for LGBTQ pupils and thereby improve overall school climate. The resources shall be designed for use in schools operated by a school district or county office of education and charter schools serving pupils in grades 7 to 12, inclusive.
(b) The department shall periodically update the schoolsite and community resources for the support of LGBTQ pupils to reflect changes in law.
(c)(1) As used in this section, schoolsite resources for the support of LGBTQ pupils include, but are not limited to, all of the following:
(C) Antibullying and harassment policies and related complaint procedures.
EDC 234.
(a) This article shall be known, and may be cited, as the Safe Place to Learn Act.
(b) It is the policy of the State of California to ensure that all local educational agencies continue to work to reduce discrimination, harassment, violence, intimidation, and bullying. It is further the policy of the state to improve pupil safety at schools and the connections between pupils and supportive adults, schools, and communities.
EDC 234.1.
The department, pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 64001, shall monitor adherence to the requirements of Chapter 5.3 (commencing with Section 4900) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations and this chapter as part of its regular monitoring and review of local educational agencies, commonly known as the Categorical Program Monitoring process. The department shall assess whether local educational agencies have done all of the following:
(a) Adopted a policy that prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on the actual or perceived characteristics set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, and Section 220 of this code, and disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The policy shall include a statement that the policy applies to all acts related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a school under the jurisdiction of the local educational agency, and all acts of the governing board or body of the local educational agency, the superintendent of the school district, and the county superintendent of schools in enacting policies and procedures that govern the local educational agency.
(b) Adopted a process for receiving and investigating complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on any of the actual or perceived characteristics set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, and Section 220 of this code, and disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The complaint process shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) A requirement that, if school personnel witness an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, they shall take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so.
(2) A timeline to investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying that shall be followed by all schools under the jurisdiction of the school district.
(3) An appeal process afforded to the complainant in the case of a disagreement with the resolution of a complaint filed pursuant to this section.
(4) All forms developed pursuant to this process shall be translated pursuant to Section 48985.
(c) Publicized antidiscrimination, antiharassment, anti-intimidation, and antibullying policies adopted pursuant to subdivision (a), including information about the manner in which to file a complaint, to pupils, parents, employees, agents of the governing board, and the general public. The information shall be translated pursuant to Section 48985.
(d)(1) Provided, incident to the publicizing described in subdivision (c), to certificated schoolsite employees who serve pupils in any of grades 7 to 12, inclusive, who are employed by the local educational agency, information on existing schoolsite and community resources related to the support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) pupils, or related to the support of pupils who may face bias or bullying on the basis of religious affiliation, or perceived religious affiliation.
(2) As used in this subdivision, both of the following apply:
(A) Schoolsite resources may include, but are not limited to, peer support or affinity clubs and organizations, safe spaces for LGBTQ or other at-promise pupils, counseling services, staff who have received antibias or other training aimed at supporting these pupils or who serve as designated support to these pupils, health and other curriculum materials that are inclusive of, and relevant to, these pupils, online training developed pursuant to Section 32283.5, and other policies adopted pursuant to this article, including related complaint procedures.
(B) Community resources may include, but are not limited to, community-based organizations that provide support to LGBTQ or other at-promise pupils and their families, and physical and mental health providers with experience or training in treating or supporting these pupils.
(e) Posted the policy established pursuant to subdivision (a) in all schools and offices, including staff lounges and pupil government meeting rooms.
(f) Maintained documentation of complaints and their resolution for a minimum of one review cycle.
(g) Ensured that complainants are protected from retaliation and that the identity of a complainant alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying remains confidential, as appropriate.
(h) Identified a responsible local educational agency officer for ensuring school district or county office of education compliance with the requirements of Chapter 5.3 (commencing with Section 4900) of Division 1 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations and this chapter.
(i) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require school employees to engage with religious institutions in the course of identifying community support resources pursuant to this section.
EDC 234.2.
(a) The department shall display current information, and periodically update information, on curricula and other resources that specifically address bias-related discrimination, harassment, intimidation, cyber sexual bullying, as defined in Section 48900, and bullying based on any of the actual or perceived characteristics set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code and Section 220 on the California Healthy Kids Resource Center Internet Web site and other appropriate department Internet Web sites where information about discrimination, harassment, intimidation, cyber sexual bullying, and bullying is posted.
(b) The department shall annually inform school districts of the information on the California Healthy Kids Resource Center Internet Web site and other appropriate department Internet Web sites where information about cyber sexual bullying is posted pursuant to subdivision (a). The department may use electronic mail to inform school districts of this information.
(c) School districts are encouraged to inform pupils regarding the available information and resources on the department's Internet Web sites regarding the dangers and consequences of cyber sexual bullying to help reduce the instances of cyber sexual bullying.
EDC 234.3.
The department shall develop a model handout describing the rights and obligations set forth in Sections 200, 201, and 220 and the policies addressing bias-related discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying in schools. This model handout shall be posted on appropriate department Internet Web sites.
EDC 234.4.
(a) A local educational agency shall adopt, on or before December 31, 2019, procedures for preventing acts of bullying, including cyberbullying.
(b) For purposes of this section, a "local educational agency" means a school district, a county office of education, or a charter school.
EDC 234.5.
(a) The Superintendent shall post, and annually update, on the department's Internet Web site and provide to each school district a list of statewide resources, including community-based organizations, that provide support to youth, and their families, who have been subjected to school-based discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, including school-based discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying on the basis of religious affiliation, nationality, race, or ethnicity, or perceived religious affiliation, nationality, race, or ethnicity.
(b) The department's Internet Web site shall also include a list of statewide resources for youth who have been affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological trauma caused by violence at home, at school, and in the community.
EDC 234.6.
(a) For purposes of this article, "local educational agency" means a county office of education, school district, state special school, or charter school.
(b) Commencing with the 2020-21 academic year, each local educational agency shall ensure that all of the following information is readily accessible in a prominent location on the local educational agency's existing internet website in a manner that is easily accessible to parents or guardians and pupils:
(1) The local educational agency's policy on pupil suicide prevention in grades 7 to 12, inclusive, adopted pursuant to Section 215.
(2) The local educational agency's policy on pupil suicide prevention in kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, adopted pursuant to Section 215, including reference to the age appropriateness of that policy.
(3) The definition of discrimination and harassment based on sex as described in Section 230. This shall include the rights set forth in Section 221.8.
(4) The Title IX information included on a local educational agency's internet website pursuant to Section 221.61.
(5) A link to the Title IX information included on the department's internet website pursuant to Section 221.6.
(6) The local educational agency's written policy on sexual harassment, as it pertains to pupils, prepared pursuant to Section 231.5.
(7) The local educational agency's policy, if it exists, on preventing and responding to hate violence as described in Section 233.
(8) The local educational agency's anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, anti-intimidation, and anti-bullying policies as described in Section 234.1.
(9) The local educational agency's anti-cyberbullying procedures adopted pursuant to Section 234.4.
(10) A section on social media bullying that includes all of the following references to possible forums for social media bullying:
(A) Internet websites with free registration and ease of registration.
(B) Internet websites offering peer-to-peer instant messaging.
(C) Internet websites offering comment forums or sections.
(D) Internet websites offering image or video posting platforms.
(11) A link to statewide resources, including community-based organizations, compiled by the department pursuant to Section 234.5.
(12) Any additional information a local educational agency deems important for preventing bullying and harassment.
EDC 32261.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to encourage school districts, county offices of education, law enforcement agencies, and agencies serving youth to develop and implement interagency strategies, in-service training programs, and activities that will improve school attendance and reduce school crime and violence, including vandalism, drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership, gang violence, hate crimes, bullying, including bullying committed personally or by means of an electronic act, teen relationship violence, and discrimination and harassment, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment. [...]
(f) As used in this chapter, "bullying" has the same meaning as set forth in subdivision (r) of Section 48900.
EDC 32265.
(a) The partnership shall sponsor at least two regional conferences for school districts, county offices of education, agencies serving youth, allied agencies, community-based organizations, and law enforcement agencies to identify exemplary programs and techniques that have been effectively used to reduce school crime, including hate crimes, vandalism, drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership and gang violence, truancy, and excessive absenteeism.
(b) The conference may include, but need not be limited to, information on all of the following topics:
(9) Bullying prevention, including the prevention of acts committed personally or by means of an electronic act.
EDC 32270.
(a) The partnership shall establish a statewide school safety cadre for the purpose of facilitating interagency coordination and collaboration among school districts, county offices of education, agencies serving youth, allied agencies, community-based organizations, and law enforcement agencies to improve school attendance, encourage good citizenship, and to reduce school violence, school crime, including hate crimes, vandalism, drug and alcohol abuse, gang membership and gang violence, truancy rates, bullying, including acts that are committed personally or by means of an electronic act, teen relationship violence, and discrimination and harassment, including, but not limited to, sexual harassment.
(b) The partnership may appoint up to 100 professionals from educational agencies, community-based organizations, allied agencies, and law enforcement to the statewide cadre.
(c) The partnership shall provide training to the statewide cadre representatives to enable them to initiate and maintain school community safety programs among school districts, county offices of education, agencies serving youth, allied agencies, community-based organizations, and law enforcement agencies in each region.
EDC 32282.
(a) The comprehensive school safety plan shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:
(2) Identifying appropriate strategies and programs that will provide or maintain a high level of school safety and address the school's procedures for complying with existing laws related to school safety, which shall include the development of all of the following:
(E) A discrimination and harassment policy consistent with the prohibition against discrimination contained in Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1.
(e) As comprehensive school safety plans are reviewed and updated, the Legislature encourages all plans, to the extent that resources are available, to include policies and procedures aimed at the prevention of bullying.
EDC 32283.
The Department of Justice and the State Department of Education, in accordance with Section 32262, shall contract with one or more professional trainers to coordinate statewide workshops for school districts, county offices of education, and schoolsite personnel, and in particular school principals, to assist them in the development of their respective school safety and crisis response plans, and provide training in the prevention of bullying as defined in subdivision (r) of Section 48900. The Department of Justice and the State Department of Education shall work in cooperation with regard to the workshops coordinated and presented pursuant to the contracts. Implementation of this section shall be contingent upon the availability of funds in the annual Budget Act.
EDC 32283.5.
(a) The department shall develop and post on its internet website an online training module to assist all school staff, school administrators, parents, pupils, and community members in increasing their knowledge of the dynamics of bullying and cyberbullying. The online training module shall include, but is not limited to, identifying an act of bullying or cyberbullying and implementing strategies to address bullying and cyberbullying.
(b) The department shall post on its internet website and annually update a list of available online training modules relating to bullying or bullying prevention.
(c) A school operated by a school district or a county office of education and a charter school shall annually make available the online training module developed by the department pursuant to subdivision (a) to certificated schoolsite employees and all other schoolsite employees who have regular interaction with pupils.
EDC 33546.
(a) When the "Health Framework for California Public Schools" (health framework) is next revised after January 1, 2017, the commission shall consider including comprehensive information for kindergarten and grades 1 to 8, inclusive, on the development of healthy relationships, which shall be age and developmentally appropriate and consistent with the health education standards adopted by the state board.
(b) If the commission includes comprehensive information on the development of healthy relationships in the health framework, the commission shall comply with both of the following:
(1) Ensure information included in the health framework is research-based and appropriate for pupils of all races, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities, and ethnic and cultural backgrounds. This may include, but shall not be limited to, reviewing other states' curricula.
(2) Consult with teachers and educators with expertise in curriculum for developing healthy relationships.
(c) For purposes of this section, the "development of healthy relationships" includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) Understanding the principles of treating one another with respect, dignity, and kindness.
(2) Demonstrating the ability to use interpersonal communication skills to address and resolve disagreement and conflict.
(3) Recognizing when and how to respond to dangerous or other situations that may result in the bullying, harassment, harming, or hurting of another person.
EDC 48900.
A pupil shall not be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion, unless the superintendent of the school district or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed an act as defined pursuant to any of subdivisions (a) to (r), inclusive:
(p) Unlawfully offered, arranged to sell, negotiated to sell, or sold the prescription drug Soma.
(q) Engaged in, or attempted to engage in, hazing. For purposes of this subdivision, "hazing" means a method of initiation or preinitiation into a pupil organization or body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, that is likely to cause serious bodily injury or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to a former, current, or prospective pupil. For purposes of this subdivision, "hazing" does not include athletic events or school-sanctioned events.
(r) Engaged in an act of bullying. For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) "Bullying" means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, and including one or more acts committed by a pupil or group of pupils as defined in Section 48900.2, 48900.3, or 48900.4, directed toward one or more pupils that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
(A) Placing a reasonable pupil or pupils in fear of harm to that pupil's or those pupils' person or property.
(B) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience a substantially detrimental effect on the pupil's physical or mental health.
(C) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with the pupil's academic performance.
(D) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with the pupil's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
(2)(A) "Electronic act" means the creation or transmission originated on or off the schoolsite, by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone, or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager, of a communication, including, but not limited to, any of the following:
(i) A message, text, sound, video, or image.
(ii) A post on a social network internet website, including, but not limited to:
(I) Posting to or creating a burn page. "Burn page" means an internet website created for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed in paragraph (1).
(II) Creating a credible impersonation of another actual pupil for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed in paragraph (1). "Credible impersonation" means to knowingly and without consent impersonate a pupil for the purpose of bullying the pupil and such that another pupil would reasonably believe, or has reasonably believed, that the pupil was or is the pupil who was impersonated.
(III) Creating a false profile for the purpose of having one or more of the effects listed in paragraph (1). "False profile" means a profile of a fictitious pupil or a profile using the likeness or attributes of an actual pupil other than the pupil who created the false profile.
(iii)(I) An act of cyber sexual bullying.
(II) For purposes of this clause, "cyber sexual bullying" means the dissemination of, or the solicitation or incitement to disseminate, a photograph or other visual recording by a pupil to another pupil or to school personnel by means of an electronic act that has or can be reasonably predicted to have one or more of the effects described in subparagraphs (A) to (D), inclusive, of paragraph (1). A photograph or other visual recording, as described in this subclause, shall include the depiction of a nude, semi-nude, or sexually explicit photograph or other visual recording of a minor where the minor is identifiable from the photograph, visual recording, or other electronic act.
(III) For purposes of this clause, "cyber sexual bullying" does not include a depiction, portrayal, or image that has any serious literary, artistic, educational, political, or scientific value or that involves athletic events or school-sanctioned activities.
(B) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) and subparagraph (A), an electronic act shall not constitute pervasive conduct solely on the basis that it has been transmitted on the internet or is currently posted on the internet.
(3) "Reasonable pupil" means a pupil, including, but not limited to, a pupil with exceptional needs, who exercises average care, skill, and judgment in conduct for a person of that age, or for a person of that age with the pupil's exceptional needs.
EDC 48900.2.
In addition to the reasons specified in Section 48900, a pupil may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed sexual harassment as defined in Section 212.5.
For the purposes of this chapter, the conduct described in Section 212.5 must be considered by a reasonable person of the same gender as the victim to be sufficiently severe or pervasive to have a negative impact upon the individual's academic performance or to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment. This section shall not apply to pupils enrolled in kindergarten and grades 1 to 3, inclusive.
EDC 48900.3.
In addition to the reasons set forth in Sections 48900 and 48900.2, a pupil in any of grades 4 to 12, inclusive, may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has caused, attempted to cause, threatened to cause, or participated in an act of, hate violence, as defined in subdivision (e) of Section 233.
EDC 48900.4.
In addition to the grounds specified in Sections 48900 and 48900.2, a pupil enrolled in any of grades 4 to 12, inclusive, may be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion if the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has intentionally engaged in harassment, threats, or intimidation, directed against school district personnel or pupils, that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to have the actual and reasonably expected effect of materially disrupting classwork, creating substantial disorder, and invading the rights of either school personnel or pupils by creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment.
EDC 48900.9.
(a) The superintendent of a school district, the principal of a school, or the principal's designee may refer a victim of, witness to, or other pupil affected by, an act of bullying, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (r) of Section 48900, committed on or after January 1, 2015, to the school counselor, school psychologist, social worker, child welfare attendance personnel, school nurse, or other school support service personnel for case management, counseling, and participation in a restorative justice program, as appropriate.
(b) A pupil who has engaged in an act of bullying, as defined in paragraph (1) of subdivision (r) of Section 48900, may also be referred to the school counselor, school psychologist, social worker, child welfare attendance personnel, or other school support service personnel for case management and counseling, or for participation in a restorative justice program, pursuant to Section 48900.5.
PEN 245.6.
(a) It shall be unlawful to engage in hazing, as defined in this section.
(b) "Hazing" means any method of initiation or preinitiation into a student organization or student body, whether or not the organization or body is officially recognized by an educational institution, which is likely to cause serious bodily injury to any former, current, or prospective student of any school, community college, college, university, or other educational institution in this state. The term "hazing" does not include customary athletic events or school-sanctioned events.
(c) A violation of this section that does not result in serious bodily injury is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100), nor more than five thousand dollars ($5,000), or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one year, or both.
(d) Any person who personally engages in hazing that results in death or serious bodily injury as defined in paragraph (4) of subdivision (f) of Section 243 of the Penal Code, is guilty of either a misdemeanor or a felony, and shall be punished by imprisonment in county jail not exceeding one year, or by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170.
(e) The person against whom the hazing is directed may commence a civil action for injury or damages. The action may be brought against any participants in the hazing, or any organization to which the student is seeking membership whose agents, directors, trustees, managers, or officers authorized, requested, commanded, participated in, or ratified the hazing.
(f) Prosecution under this section shall not prohibit prosecution under any other provision of law.
REGULATIONS
§ 4600. General definitions.
As used in this chapter, the term:
(d) Complainant" means any individual, including a person's duly authorized representative or an interested third party, public agency, or organization who files a written complaint alleging violation of federal or state laws or regulations, including allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying in programs and activities funded directly by the state or receiving any financial assistance from the state.
(e) Complaint" means a written and signed statement alleging a violation of federal or state laws or regulations, which may include an allegation of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying. A signature may be handwritten, typed (including in an email) or electronically generated. Complaints may be filed anonymously pursuant to section 4630(e). Notwithstanding section 4600(d), a complaint filed on behalf of an individual student may only be filed by that student or that student's duly authorized representative. If the complainant is unable to put the complaint in writing, due to conditions such as a disability or illiteracy, the local agency shall assist the complainant in the filing of the complaint.
(f) Complaint investigation" means an administrative process used by CDE or local educational agency (LEA) for the purpose of gathering data regarding the complaint.
(g) Complaint procedure" means an internal process used by the CDE or LEA to process and resolve complaints.
(h) Days" means calendar days unless designated otherwise.
(i) Direct state intervention" means the steps taken by the CDE to initially investigate complaints or effect compliance.
(j) Educational activity" shall have the same definition as found in Education Code section 49010(a).
(k) Facilities that pose an emergency or urgent threat to the health or safety of pupils or staff" means a condition as defined in Education Code section 17592.72(c)(1) and any other emergency conditions the school district determines appropriate.
§ 4620. LEA responsibilities.
Each LEA shall have the primary responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations. Each LEA shall investigate complaints alleging failure to comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations and/or alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying and seek to resolve those complaints in accordance with the procedures set out in this chapter and in accordance with the policies and procedures of the governing board or authorized designee.
§ 4621. District policies and procedures.
(a) Each LEA shall adopt policies and procedures consistent with sections 4600 through 4694 of this chapter for the investigation and resolution of complaints. Local policies shall ensure that complainants are protected from retaliation and that the identity of a complainant alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying remain confidential as appropriate. School districts, County Offices of Education, and direct-funded charter schools shall submit their policies and procedures to the local governing board or authorized designee for adoption.
(b) Each LEA shall include in its policies and procedures the person(s), employee(s) or agency position(s) or unit(s) responsible for receiving complaints, investigating complaints and ensuring LEA compliance. The LEA's policies shall ensure that the person(s), employee(s), position(s) or unit(s) responsible for compliance and/or investigations shall be knowledgeable about the laws/programs that he/she is assigned to investigate.
(c) The LEA may provide a complaint form for persons wishing to file a complaint to fill out and file. However, a person is not required to use the complaint form furnished by the LEA in order to file a complaint.
§ 4622. Notice.
(a) Each LEA shall annually notify in writing, as applicable, its students, employees, parents or guardians of its students, the district advisory committees, school advisory committees, appropriate private school officials or representatives, and other interested parties of their LEA complaint procedures and the provisions of this chapter. The notice may be made available on the LEA's website.
(b) The notice shall:
(1) Include the title of the position whose occupant is responsible for processing complaints, and the identity(ies) of the person(s) currently occupying that position, if known;
(2) Advise of the opportunity to appeal the LEA Investigation Report to the CDE, except when the LEA has used its local uniform complaint procedures to address a complaint not described in section 4610(b);
(3) Advise the recipient of any civil law remedies that may also be available under state or federal discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying laws, if applicable, and of the appeal pursuant to Education Code section 262.3;
(4) Include the information required by Education Code section 33315(a)(7); and
(5) Include information regarding the requirements of Education Code sections 49010 through 49013 relating to pupil fees.
(c) The notice shall be in English, and when necessary, in the primary language, pursuant to Education Code section 48985, or mode of communication of the recipient of the notice.
(d) Copies of LEA complaint procedures shall be available free of charge.
§ 4630. Filing a local complaint; procedures, time lines.
(a) Complaints shall be filed not later than one year from the date the alleged violation occurred, except as stated in subdivision (b) below. For complaints relating to Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP), the date of the alleged violation is the date when the reviewing authority approves the LCAP or annual update that was adopted by the LEA.
(b) An investigation of alleged unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying shall be initiated by filing a complaint not later than six months from the date the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying occurred, or the date the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying unless the time for filing is extended by the district or county superintendent or charter school administrator or similarly authorized charter school individual, or that person's designee, upon written request by the complainant setting forth the reasons for the extension. Such extension by the district or county superintendent or charter school administrator or similarly authorized charter school individual, or that person's designee shall be made in writing. The period for filing may be extended by the district or county superintendent or charter school administrator or similarly authorized charter school individual, or that person's designee for good cause for a period not to exceed 90 days following the expiration of the six-month time period. The district or county superintendent or charter school administrator or similarly authorized charter school individual, or that person's designee shall respond immediately upon a receipt of a request for extension.
(c) A complaint of alleged unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying may be filed by an individual who alleges that that individual has personally suffered unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying, or by one who believes any specific class of individuals has been subjected to discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying prohibited by this part, or by a duly authorized representative who alleges that an individual student has been subjected to discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
(1) The complaint shall be filed with the LEA in accordance with the complaint procedures of the LEA.
(2) An investigation of a discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying complaint shall be conducted in a manner that protects confidentiality of the parties and maintains the integrity of the process.
(d) Pupil fee complaints may be filed with the principal of the school.
(e) Pupil fee complaints and complaints regarding local control and accountability plans only, may be filed anonymously, that is, without an identifying signature, if the complaint provides evidence or information leading to evidence to support an allegation of noncompliance with Education Code sections 49010 and 49011 regarding pupil fees or an allegation of noncompliance with Education Code sections 52060 through 52077, including an allegation of a violation of Education Code sections 47606.5 or 47607.3, as referenced in Education Code section 52075, regarding local control and accountability plans.
§ 4631. Responsibilities of the LEA.
(a) Upon receipt of a complaint, the LEA person responsible for the investigation of the complaints or that person's designee shall conduct and complete an investigation of the complaint in accordance with the local procedures adopted pursuant to section 4621 and prepare a written LEA Investigation Report. This 60-day time period may be extended with the written agreement of the complainant.
(b) The investigation shall include an opportunity for the complainant, or the complainant's representative, or both, to present evidence or information leading to evidence to support the allegations of non-compliance with state and federal laws and/or regulations.
(c) Refusal by the complainant to provide the investigator with documents or other evidence related to the allegations in the complaint, or to otherwise fail or refuse to cooperate in the investigation or engage in any other obstruction of the investigation, may result in the dismissal of the complaint because of a lack of evidence to support the allegations.
(d) Refusal by the LEA to provide the investigator with access to records and/or other information related to the allegation in the complaint, or to otherwise fail or refuse to cooperate in the investigation or engage in any other obstruction of the investigation, may result in a finding based on evidence collected that a violation has occurred and may result in the imposition of a remedy in favor of the complainant.
(e) The LEA shall issue an LEA Investigation Report based on the evidence. The LEA Investigation Report shall be in writing and sent to the complainant within 60 days from receipt of the complaint by the LEA, subject to any extension under subsection (a) above. The LEA Investigation Report shall include:
(1) the findings of fact based on the evidence gathered;
(2) conclusion providing a clear determination as to each allegation as to whether the LEA is in compliance with the relevant law; and
(3) if the LEA finds merit in the complaint, corrective actions including in the case of complaints related to subsections (a)(1)(I), (J), (K) and (L) of Education Code section 33315, or as otherwise required by law, a remedy to all affected pupils, parents, and guardians. With respect to a pupil fees complaint, corrective actions shall include, a remedy that comports with Education Code section 49013(d) and section 4600(t).
(4) notice of the complainant's right to appeal the LEA Investigation Report to the CDE, except when the LEA has used its local uniform complaint procedures to address a complaint not described in section 4610(b); and
(5) procedures to be followed for initiating an appeal to the CDE.
(f) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit the parties from utilizing alternative methods to resolve the allegations in the complaint, including, but not limited to, local mediation.
(g) Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit an LEA from resolving complaints prior to the formal filing of a written complaint.
§ 4632. Appeal of LEA investigation report–grounds.
(a) The complainant may appeal an LEA Investigation Report for a complaint described in section 4610(b) to the CDE by filing a written appeal within 30 days of the date of the LEA Investigation Report.
(b) In order to request an appeal, the complainant must specify and explain the basis for the appeal, including at least one of the following:
(1) The LEA failed to follow its complaint procedures, and/or
(2) Relative to the allegations of the complaint, the LEA Investigation Report lacks material findings of fact necessary to reach a conclusion of law, and/or
(3) The material findings of fact in the LEA Investigation Report are not supported by substantial evidence, and/or
(4) The legal conclusion in the LEA Investigation Report is inconsistent with the law, and/or
(5) In a case in which the LEA found noncompliance, the corrective actions fail to provide a proper remedy.
(c) The appeal shall be accompanied by:
(1) a copy of the locally filed complaint; and
(2) a copy of the LEA Investigation Report.
(d) Appeals that do not comply with subsections (a) through (c), or do not pertain to subject matter described in section 4610(b), will not be processed. The CDE will notify the appellant of the deficiencies.
(e) If the CDE determines the appeal raises issues not contained in the local complaint, the CDE will refer those new issues back to the LEA for resolution as a new complaint under section 4630 or 4631.
(f) If the CDE determines that the LEA Investigation Report failed to address an allegation raised by the complaint and subject to the UCP process, the CDE shall notify the LEA of such failure and direct the LEA to investigate and address such allegation(s) in accordance with this chapter. The LEA must provide both the CDE and the appellant with an amended investigation report that addresses the complaint allegation(s) that was not addressed in the original Investigation Report within 20 days of such notification. The amended report must also inform the appellant of the right to separately appeal, in accordance with this section, the amended investigation report with respect to the complaint allegation(s) that was not addressed in the original report. The CDE will proceed with its resolution of the appeal of the LEA Investigation Report as to allegations that have been addressed even while, at the same time, the LEA is preparing an amended investigation report as to any allegation(s) that the CDE identified as not having been addressed.
§ 4633. Appeal of LEA investigation report.
(a) If the LEA Investigation Report is appealed and meets the requirements of section 4632, subdivisions (a) through (c), the CDE shall notify the LEA of the appeal. Upon notification by the CDE that the LEA Investigation Report has been appealed, the LEA shall forward the following to the CDE within 10 days of the date of notification:
(1) A copy of the original complaint;
(2) A copy of the LEA Investigation Report;
(3) A copy of the investigation file, including but not limited to, all notes, interviews and documents submitted by the parties or gathered by the investigator;
(4) A report of any action taken to resolve the complaint;
(5) A copy of the LEA complaint procedures; and
(6) Such other relevant information as the CDE may request.
An LEA's failure to provide a timely and complete response may result in the CDE ruling on the appeal without considering information from the LEA.
(b) In deciding an appeal, the CDE shall not consider any information not previously presented to the LEA investigator during the investigation, unless requested by the CDE. Any confidential information or pupil information in the investigative file shall remain confidential and shall not be disclosed by the CDE, to the extent permitted by law.
(c) The CDE may contact the parties for further information, if necessary.
(d) The CDE shall review the investigation file, the complaint procedures, documents and any other evidence received from the LEA and determine whether:
(1) The LEA followed its complaint procedures;
(2) The LEA Investigation Report includes material findings of fact necessary to reach a conclusion of law on the subject of the appeal;
(3) The material findings of fact in the LEA Investigation Report are supported by substantial evidence;
(4) The LEA Investigation Report includes a legal conclusion(s) that is consistent with the law; and
(5) In a case in which the LEA found noncompliance, the corrective actions provide a proper remedy.
(e) If the CDE determines that the LEA Investigation Report meets the criteria in subsection (d) above, the appeal shall be denied.
(f) If the CDE determines that the LEA Investigation Report is deficient because it does not meet the criteria in subsection (d) above, the CDE may:
(1) Notify the LEA of such deficiencies and return the LEA Investigation Report to the LEA for further processing and instruct the LEA to provide both the CDE and the complainant with an amended Investigation Report within 20 days of such notification, which amended report must inform the complainant of the right to appeal in accordance with section 4632.; or
(2) Issue a Decision based on the evidence in the investigation file received from the LEA; or
(3) Conduct a further investigation of the allegations which are the basis for the appeal and issue a Decision.
(g) An appeal decision issued by the CDE shall include the following:
(1) A finding that the LEA complied or did not comply with its complaint procedures;
(2) The CDE's determination as to the LEA's findings of fact and conclusions of law regarding the issue on appeal; and
(3) Corrective actions as appropriate and including a remedy to the affected pupil, or in the case of complaints related to subsections (a)(1)(I), (a)(1)(J), (a)(1)(K), and (a)(1)(L) of Education Code section 33315 , or as otherwise required by law, a remedy to all affected pupils, parents, and guardians. With respect to a pupil fee complaint, corrective actions shall include a remedy that comports with Education Code section 49013(d) and section 4600(t).
(h) The CDE must issue a written Decision regarding an appeal-to the appellant within 60 days of the CDE's receipt of the appeal, unless extended by written agreement with the appellant, or the CDE documents exceptional circumstances and informs the appellant, or the CDE receives notice that the matter has been resolved at the local level, or the CDE receives notice that the matter has been judicially decided.
§ 4640. Filing a state complaint that has not first been filed at the Local Educational Agency (LEA); time lines, notice, appeal rights.
(a) If a complaint is erroneously filed with the CDE without first being filed with and investigated by the LEA, the CDE shall immediately forward the complaint to the LEA for processing in accordance with article 4 of this chapter, unless extraordinary circumstances exist necessitating direct state intervention as described at section 4650.
(b) The CDE will notify the complainant in writing that:
(1) The CDE does not have jurisdiction, at this time, over the complaint and that the complaint should have been filed with the LEA in the first instance;
(2) That the complaint has been transferred to the LEA requesting the LEA to process and investigate the allegation in the complaint; and
(3) That the complainant may file an appeal to the CDE following the issuance of the LEA Investigation Report, pursuant to section 4632.
§ 4650. Basis of direct state intervention.
(a) The CDE may at its discretion directly intervene without waiting for an LEA investigation if one or more of the following situations exist:
(1) The complaint includes an allegation that an LEA failed to comply with the complaint procedures required by this chapter and its local rules and regulations, including, but not limited to, the failure or refusal of the LEA to cooperate with the investigation;
(2) The complainant requests anonymity because the complainant would be in danger of retaliation and would suffer immediate and irreparable harm if the complainant filed a complaint with the LEA (except for complaints identified in section 4630(e), which may be filed anonymously at the local level);
(3) The complainant alleges that the LEA failed or refused to implement the final LEA Investigation Report resulting from its local investigation or local mediation agreement or a CDE appeal Decision;
(4) The complainant alleges that through no fault of the complainant, no action has been taken by the LEA within 60 calendar days of the date the complaint was filed. Prior to direct intervention, the CDE shall attempt to work with the LEA to allow it to complete the investigation and issue an LEA Investigation Report; or
(5) The complainant alleges that the complainant would suffer immediate and irreparable harm as a result of an application of a district-wide policy that is in conflict with state or federal law covered by this chapter, and that filing a complaint with the LEA would be futile.
(b) The CDE shall directly intervene without waiting for LEA investigation if the complaint alleges that an agency that is not an LEA violated laws relating to a Child Care and Development program;
(c) The complaint shall identify the basis, as described in subdivision (a) or subdivision (b) above, for filing the complaint directly to the CDE. The complainant must present the CDE with evidence that supports the basis for the direct filing.
§ 4651. Notification.
(a) When the Department accepts, a complaint requesting direct state intervention pursuant to section 4650, it will immediately notify the complainant in writing of the determination. If the complaint is not accepted, it shall be referred to the LEA for local investigation, or referred to another agency pursuant to section 4611.
(b) When the CDE declines direct intervention for a complainant who requests anonymity pursuant to section 4650(a)(2), the CDE will not forward the complaint to the LEA pursuant to section 4640 without the complainant's permission.
§ 4663. Department investigation procedures.
(a) The investigator(s) shall request all documentation and other evidence regarding the allegations in the complaint.
(b) The investigation shall include an opportunity for the complainant, or the complainant's representative, or both, to present the evidence or information leading to evidence to support the allegations of non-compliance with state and federal laws and/or regulations.
(c) Refusal by the complainant to provide the investigator with documents or other evidence related to the allegations in the complaint, or to otherwise fail or refuse to cooperate in the investigation or engage in any other obstruction of the investigation may result in the dismissal of the complaint because of a lack of evidence to support the allegations.
(d) Refusal by the local educational agency to provide the investigator with access to records and/or other information related to the allegation in the complaint, or to otherwise fail or refuse to cooperate in the investigation or engage in any other obstruction of the investigation may result in a finding based on evidence collected that a violation has occurred and may result in the imposition of a remedy in favor of the complainant.
§ 4664. Department investigation report.
(a) In cases of direct state intervention, the CDE shall issue a Department Investigation Report. The Department Investigation Report shall include the following:
(1) A summary of the allegations in the complaint;
(2) A description of the general procedures of the investigation;
(3) Citations of applicable law and regulations;
(4) Department findings of facts;
(5) Department conclusions;
(6) Corrective actions for the LEA or other public agency as defined in section 3200, if applicable;
(7) Time line for corrective actions, if applicable;
(8) Notice that any party may request reconsideration of the Department Investigation Report from the Superintendent within 30 days of the date of the report;
(9) For those federal programs for which there is a right to appeal to the United States Secretary of Education, the parties shall be notified of that right.
(b) The CDE must issue a written Department Investigation Report to the complainant within 60 days of receipt of the complaint, unless the parties have agreed to extend the time line or the CDE documents exceptional circumstances and informs the complainant, or the matter has been resolved at the local level or judicially decided.
§ 4665. Reconsideration of department investigation report.
(a) Within 30 days of the date of the Department Investigation Report, either party may request reconsideration by the Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee. The request for reconsideration shall specify and explain why:
(1) Relative to the allegation(s), the Department Investigation Report lacks material findings of fact necessary to reach a conclusion of law on the subject of the complaint, and/or
(2) The material findings of fact in the Department Investigation Report are not supported by substantial evidence, and/or
(3) The legal conclusion in the Department Investigation Report is inconsistent with the law, and/or
(4) In a case in which the CDE found noncompliance, the corrective actions fail to provide a proper remedy.
(b) In evaluating or deciding on a request for reconsideration, the CDE will not consider any information not previously submitted to the CDE by a party during the investigation unless such information was unknown to the party at time of the investigation and, with due diligence, could not have become known to the party. This prohibition does not prohibit the CDE from seeking and obtaining information from any source necessary to issue an accurate Department Investigation Report.
(c) Within 60 days of the receipt of the request for reconsideration, the Superintendent or the Superintendent's designee shall respond in writing to the parties. Such response may include a denial of the request for reconsideration, or modifications to the Department Investigation Report necessary to ensure factual and legal accuracy. Pending the Superintendent's response to a request for reconsideration, the Department Investigation Report remains in effect and enforceable, unless stayed by a court.
(d) Appeals from investigations of complaints involving Child Development contractors, whether public or private, shall be made to the Superintendent of Public Instruction as provided in subsection (a) except as otherwise provided in division 19 of title 5 of the Code of California Regulations.
(e) For those federal programs for which there is a right to appeal to the United States Secretary of Education, the parties shall be notified of that right.
§ 4670. Enforcement.
(a) Upon determination that a local agency violated the provisions of this chapter, the Department shall notify the local agency pursuant to sections 4633(g)(3) or 4664(b) that it must take corrective action to come into compliance. If corrective action is not taken, the Department may use any means authorized by law to effect compliance, including, but not limited to:
(1) The withholding of all or part of the local agency's relevant state or federal fiscal support in accordance with state or federal statute or regulation;
(2) Probationary eligibility for future state or federal support, conditional on compliance with specified conditions;
(3) Proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction for an appropriate order compelling compliance.
(b) No decision to curtail state or federal funding to a local agency under this chapter shall be made until the Department has determined that compliance cannot be secured by other means.
(c) If the Department determines that a Child Development Contractor's Agreement shall be terminated, the procedures set forth in sections 8257(b) or 8400 through 8409 of the Education Code and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto (chapter 19 of title 5, CCR, commencing with section 18118), shall be followed.