In order to create a safe learning environment for all students, the Governing Board desires to protect the right of every student to be free from hate-motivated behavior and will promote harmonious relationships among students so as to enable them to gain a true understanding of the civil rights and social responsibilities of people in society. The district prohibits discriminatory behavior or statements that degrade an individual on the basis of his/her actual or perceived race, ethnicity, culture, heritage, gender, sex, sexual orientation, physical/mental attributes, or religious beliefs or practices.
The Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with regional programs and community organizations to promote safe environments for youth. These efforts shall be focused on providing an efficient use of district and community resources.
The district shall provide age-appropriate instruction to help promote an understanding of and respect for human rights, diversity, and tolerance in a multicultural society and to provide strategies to manage conflicts constructively.
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that staff receive training on recognizing hate-motivated behavior and on strategies to help respond appropriately to such behavior.
Grievance Procedures
Any student who believes he/she is a victim of hate-motivated behavior shall immediately contact the Coordinator for Nondiscrimination/Principal. Upon receiving such a complaint, the Coordinator/Principal shall immediately investigate the complaint in accordance with school-level complaint process/grievance procedures as described in AR 5145.7 - Sexual Harassment. A student who has been found to have demonstrated hate-motivated behavior shall be subject to discipline in accordance with law, Board policy, and administrative regulation.
Staff who receive notice of hate-motivated behavior or personally observe such behavior shall notify the Coordinator/Principal, Superintendent or designee, and/or law enforcement, as appropriate.
As necessary, the district shall provide counseling, guidance, and support to students who are victims of hate-motivated behavior and to students who exhibit such behavior.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
200-262.4 Prohibition of discrimination
32282 School safety plans
48900.3 Suspension for hate violence
48900.4 Suspension or expulsion for threats or harassment
PENAL CODE
422.55 Definition of hate crime
422.6 Crimes, harassment
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
4600-4687 Uniform Complaint Procedures
4900-4965 Nondiscrimination in elementary and secondary education programs
Management Resources:
CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LEGAL ADVISORIES
California Student Safety and Violence Prevention - Laws and Regulations, April 2004
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, OFFICE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS & NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ATTORNEYS GENERAL PUBLICATIONS
Protecting Students from Harassment and Hate Crime: A Guide for Schools, 1999
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PUBLICATIONS
Preventing Youth Hate Crimes: A Guide for Schools and Communities, 1997
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Association of Human Relations Organizations: http://www.cahro.org
California Department of Education: http://www.cde.ca.gov
National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center: http://www.safeyouth.org
U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr
U.S. Department of Justice, Community Relations Service: http://www.usdoj.gov/crs
Policy EXETER UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: June 12, 2013 Exeter, California