Complaint Processes Forms and Information

CONTACT US

Title IX and Uniform Complaint Coordinator:

Julia Reese

Julia Reese

Director of Equity, Access, and Student Outcomes

Addressing Concerns

Pixley Union School District is dedicated to meeting the needs of our students, staff, and community.  We recognize that issues cannot be addressed if we are not informed of them and we encourage communication in all areas.  In order to resolve a complaint, it is important to try to address it quickly with the staff or their direct supervisor in charge of the program.  In most cases that means speaking to the site principal.

Complaints about wider district policies or practices should be directed first to the district office.  This is also true for complaints that were not addressed sufficiently at the site level.  This page describes the various types of services, rights and complaints.  Forms to help you file specific complaints can be found to the left on this web page.

Complaints will be investigated in a timely manner.

Title IX Complaints- Sexual Harassment

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.

If you believe you have been discriminated against, on the basis of sex, or sexually harassed OR that your student has been.  You may file a Title IX complaint.

Uniform Complaint Procedures- Harassment/ Bullying/ Discrimination

Authorized by: California Code of Regulations, Title 5 sections 4600-4694

What is a UCP complaint?

A complaint under the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) is a written and signed statement alleging a violation of federal or state laws governing certain educational programs.

What agencies are subject to the UCP?

The UCP covers alleged violations by local educational agencies (LEAs) (school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools) and local public or private agencies which receive direct or indirect funding from the State to provide specific school programs, activities, or related services.

What educational programs and services are covered by the UCP?

  • Accommodations for Pregnant and Parenting Pupils

  • Adult Education

  • After School Education and Safety

  • Agricultural Career Technical Education

  • Career Technical and Technical Education and Career Technical and Technical Training Programs

  • Child Care and Development

  • Compensatory Education

  • Consolidated Categorical Aid Programs

  • Course Periods without Educational Content

  • Discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying against any protected group as identified under sections 200 and 220 and Section 11135 of the Government Code, including any actual or perceived characteristic as set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, or on the basis of a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution, as defined in Section 210.3, that is funded directly by, or that receives or benefits from, any state financial assistance

  • Educational and graduation requirements for pupils in foster care, pupils who are homeless, pupils from military families and pupils formerly in Juvenile Court now enrolled in a school district

  • Every Student Succeeds Act

  • Local Control and Accountability Plans (LCAP)

  • Migrant Education

  • Physical Education Instructional Minutes

  • Pupil Fees

  • Reasonable Accommodations to a Lactating Pupil

  • Regional Occupational Centers and Programs

  • School Plans for Student Achievement

  • School Safety Plans

  • Schoolsite Councils

  • State Preschool

  • State Preschool Health and Safety Issues in LEAs Exempt From Licensing  

What issues are not covered by the UCP?

Not all complaints fall under the scope of the UCP. Many concerns are the responsibility of the LEA, including classroom assignments, common core, grades, graduation requirements, hiring and evaluation of staff, homework policies and practices, provision of core curricula subjects, student advancement and retention, student discipline, student records, the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act, the Brown Act, and other general education requirements. The LEA, however, may use its local complaint procedures to address complaints not covered by the UCP.

Only allegations within the subject matters falling within the UCP can be appealed to the CDE.

In addition, the following complaints are referred to other agencies for resolution and not subject to the UCP:

  • Allegations of child abuse are referred to County Departments of Social Services, Protective Services Divisions, or appropriate law enforcement agency.

  • Health and safety complaints regarding licensed facilities operating a Child Development Program are referred to the Department of Social Services.

  • Employment complaints are sent to the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing.

Understanding Williams Complaints vs. Other Issues

Pursuant to Education Code 35186 a parent, student, or staff member may file a Williams Uniform Complaint for issues concerning the following requirements:

1. There should be sufficient textbooks and instructional materials. That means each student, including an English learner, must have a textbook or instructional materials, or both, to use in class and to take home.

2. School facilities must be clean, safe, and maintained in good repair.

3. There should be no teacher vacancies or misassignments. There should be a teacher assigned to each class and not a series of substitutes or other temporary teachers. The teacher should have the proper credential to teach the class, including the certification required to teach English learners, if present. Misassignment means the placement of a certificated employee in a teaching or services position for which the employee does not hold a legally recognized certificate or credential or the placement of a certificated employee in a teaching or services position that the employee is not otherwise authorized by statute to hold. Teacher vacancy means a position to which a single designated certificated employee has not been assigned at the beginning of the year for an entire year or, if the position is for a one-semester course, a position to which a single designated certificated employee has not been assigned at the beginning of a semester for an entire semester.

If you choose to file a complaint alleging that any of the above conditions is not being met, your complaint will be addressed through the district's Williams uniform complaint procedures as required by law. A complaint form may be obtained at the school office or district office, or downloaded from the school or district web site. You may also download a copy of the California Department of Education complaint form from the following web site: http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/cp/uc.

If your complaint is not concerning these, specific areas it may fall under the regular Uniform Complaint areas, Title IX Sexual Harassment, or it can be filed as a general complaint for any reason.  Forms for each can be found on this webpage.

Although using the form will help you include more of the information necessary to research your concern.  A complaint does not need not be filed using any specific complaint form.  You may submit a complaint via email or written letter to the district office or school site.