Uniform Complaint Procedure

Administrative Regulation (AR) 1312 provides for the handling of complaints alleging unlawful discrimination or violations of laws or regulations governing specified District programs or activities. The following procedures shall be followed where a written complaint is filed with the Fullerton Joint Union High School District alleging unlawful discrimination or a violation of Federal or State laws or regulations governing the following programs: Adult Basic Education, Consolidated Categorical Aid Programs, Vocational Education, Child Care and Development Programs, Child Nutrition Programs, and Special Education Programs.



Dr. Jennifer Williams, Executive Director Administrative Services, shall be the District's Compliance Officer for complaints dealing with students.  Dr. Ed Atkinson, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources, shall be the District's compliance officer for complaints dealing with staff members and shall also be the District's Title IX Coordinator. These individuals shall be responsible for receiving and investigating complaints.  Dr. Sylvia Kaufman, Assistant Superintendent Education and Assessment Services, shall be the District's compliance officer for complaints dealing with student grades or school of residence issues.



A complaint of unlawful discrimination must be filed no later than six months from the date the alleged discrimination occurred or not later than six months from the date the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged discrimination. The District's investigation shall be completed and a written decision prepared within 60 days from the receipt of the complaint.



The District's decision shall contain the findings and disposition of the complaint, including any corrective actions, the rationale for such disposition, notice of the complainant's right to appeal the District's decision to the State Department of Education, and the procedures to be followed for initiating an appeal to the State Department of Education.



Although not specified in AR 1312.1, allegations of unlawful discrimination on the basis of 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 are also governed by these procedures.  The complainant shall be protected from retaliation, and all information about the complaint will be confidential. In addition, complaints pertaining to the following are to be referred to other appropriate State or Federal agencies: (1) allegations of child abuse, (2) health and safety complaints regarding a child development program, (3) discrimination issues involving child nutrition programs or Title IX, (4) employment discrimination complaints, and (5) allegations of fraud. Local community legal assistance agencies are available. Legal resources can be located in the telephone book under legal services.
 
A copy of AR 1312.1 is provided below.  As noted in the AR, the first step of a complaint is to bring the issue to the attention of the site principal for possible resolution.  The Uniform Complaint form is provided within the document on pages (g and h).