Title IX
About Title IX
Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs and activities in federally funded schools at all levels.¹
Title IX protects students, employees, and applicants for admission and employment from all forms of sex discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity of femininity.² In addition, all students (and other persons) are protected by Title IX - regardless of their sex, sexual orientation, gender, identity, part of full time status, disability, race, or national origin - in all educational programs and activities.
¹ 20 U.S.C. Sections 1681-1688
² Title IX Resource Guide. U.S. Department of Education. Office of Civil Rights, April 2015.
Nondiscrimination/Harassment
The Governing Board desires to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the district's academic and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student based on the student's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
Unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment intimidation, or bullying includes physical, verbal, non-verbal, or written conduct based on any of the categories listed above. Unlawful discrimination also shall include the creation of a hostile environment when the prohibited conduct is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity; creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive educational environment; has the effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with a student's academic performance; or otherwise adversely affects a student's educational opportunities.
Unlawful discrimination also includes disparate treatment of students based on one of the categories above with respect to the provision of opportunities to participate in school programs or activities or the provision or receipt of educational benefits or services.
The Board also prohibits any form of retaliation against any individual who files or otherwise participates in the filing or investigation of a complaint or report regarding an incident of discrimination. Retaliation complaints shall be investigated and resolved in the same manner as a discrimination complaint.
School staff and volunteers shall carefully guard against segregation, bias and stereotyping in instruction, guidance and supervision.
The Superintendent or designee shall facilitate students' access to the educational program by publicizing the district's non-discrimination policy and related complaint procedures to students, parents/guardians, and employees. He/she shall provide training and information on the scope and use of the policy and complaint procedures and take other measures designed to increase the school community's understanding of the requirements of law related to discrimination. The Superintendent or designee shall regularly review the implementation of the district's non-discrimination policies and practices and, as necessary, shall take action to remove any identified barrier to student access to or participation in the educational program. He/she shall report his/her findings and recommendations to the Board after each review.
Complaint Process
Any student who feels that he/she has been subjected to discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying should immediately contact the compliance officer, the principal, designee, or any other staff member. Any student or school employee who observes any such incident should report the incident to the compliance officer or principal, whether or not the victim files a complaint.
The Board hereby designates the following position as Coordinator for Non-Discrimination to handle complaints regarding discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying and to answer inquiries regarding the District’s non-discrimination policies:
District Compliance Officer:
Monica Makiewicz, Ph. D
Associate Superintendent, Personnel Services
9700 Las Tunas Drive
Temple City, CA 91780
626-548-5006
Complaints may also be made using the Safe Schools Hotline at (626) 548-5110.
Upon receiving a complaint of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, the compliance officer shall immediately investigate the complaint in accordance with the district's Uniform Complaint Procedures specified in AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures.
If a situation involving harassment is not promptly remedied by the compliance officer, principal or designee, a complaint may be filed with the Superintendent or designee who shall determine which complaint procedure is appropriate.
Employees who become aware of an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, shall immediately report the incident to the compliance officer. Upon receiving a complaint of discrimination or harassment, the compliance officer shall immediately investigate the complaint in accordance with the district's Uniform Complaint Procedures specified in AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures. Where the compliance officer finds that harassment has occurred, he/she shall take prompt, appropriate action to end the harassment and address its effects on the victim.
The compliance officer shall also advise the victim of any other remedies that may be available. The compliance officer shall file a report with the Superintendent or designee and refer the matter to law enforcement where required.
Within 30 days of receiving the district's report, the complainant may appeal to the Board if he/she disagrees with the resolution of the complaint. The Board shall make a decision at its next regular meeting and its decision shall be final.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the student handbook clearly describes the district's non-discrimination policy, procedures for filing a complaint regarding discrimination or harassment, and the resources that are available to students who feel that they have been the victim of discrimination or harassment. The district's policy may also be posted on the district website or any other location that is easily accessible to students.