The Governing Board desires to keep district schools free from the threats or harmful influence of any groups who exhibit behavior disruptive to the school environment and/or the safety and well-being of students. The Board additionally desires to provide support and intervention to students who are members of gangs to enable them to successfully disengage from gang involvement and be successful in school.
(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive Safety Plan)
(cf. 3513.4 - Drug and Alcohol Free Schools)
(cf. 5131.4 - Student Disturbances)
(cf. 5131.6 - Alcohol and Other Drugs)
(cf. 5131.7 - Weapons and Dangerous Instruments)
(cf. 5137 - Positive School Climate)
The Superintendent or designee shall develop strategies for gang prevention that address the reasons that students may become involved in gangs, including the identity, recognition, or status achieved as being part of a gang, protection from gang violence in the community, the need for companionship and an extended family, intimidation to join a gang, desire to join a gang to be in a position to intimidate others, and/or connection with criminal activity.
Gang violence prevention shall start as early as possible and include, but not be limited to, age-appropriate education that focuses on developing emotional and social competence, increasing prosocial peer bonds, strengthening attachment and commitment to school, and enhancing cooperative learning skills. Prevention shall also include improving parent/guardian involvement in and support for their children's academic progress, as well as ongoing gang awareness education for parents/guardians, including gang identifiers.
(cf. 5020 - Parent Involvement)
(cf. 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services)
The Superintendent or designee shall take steps to deter gang activity on school campuses, including threats and intimidation of students and staff, recruitment or intimidation of students to join gangs, bullying, fighting, criminal activities, and confrontations between members of different gangs.
(cf. 5131.2 - Bullying)
The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that school rules of conduct and any school dress code prohibiting gang-related apparel are enforced consistently. If a student exhibits signs of gang affiliation, staff shall so inform the principal or designee and the student's parent/guardian.
(cf. 5132 - Dress and Grooming)
The Superintendent or designee shall provide in-service training which helps staff to identify gangs and gang symbols, recognize early manifestations of disruptive activities, and respond appropriately to gang behavior. Staff shall be informed about conflict management techniques and alerted to intervention measures and community resources. The Superintendent or designee shall also provide staff development on social and emotional learning, classroom management, interactive teaching, and cooperative learning skills.
(cf. 4131 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4231 - Staff Development)
(cf. 4331 - Staff Development)
The Superintendent or designee may consider gang activity prevention and intervention when developing programs outside of the school day.
(cf. 5148 - Child Care and Development)
(cf. 5148.2 - Preschool/Early Childhood Education)
(cf. 5148.3 - Before/After School Programs)
(cf. 6145 - Extracurricular and Cocurricular Activities)
(cf. 6145.2 - Athletic Competition)
The Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with child welfare services, mental health agencies, social services, and local law enforcement authorities in the prevention and intervention of gang activity.
(cf. 1400 - Relations Between Other Governmental Agencies and the Schools)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
32282 School safety plans
35183 Gang-related apparel
48907 Student exercise of free expression
48950 Student freedom of speech
51264 Educational in-service training; CDE guidelines
51265 Gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention in-service training
51266-51266.5 Model gang and substance abuse prevention curriculum
PENAL CODE
186.22 Participation in criminal street gang
13826-13826.7 Gang violence suppression
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
7101-7122 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants
Management Resources:
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT PUBLICATIONS
Why Young People Join Gangs
NATIONAL GANG CENTER PUBLICATIONS
Strategic Planning Tool
Gangs in Schools, March 2019
Parents' Guide to Gangs, July 2015
WEB SITES
California Cities Gang Prevention Network: http://www.ccgpn.org
California Department of Education: https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/ss/sa
Gang Resistance Education and Training: https://www.great-online.org/GREAT-Home
Los Angeles Police Department, Gangs: http://www.lapdonline.org/get_informed/content_basic_view/1396
Homeboy Industries: https://homeboyindustries.org
National Gang Center: https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov
Policy WOODLAKE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: September 11, 2019 Woodlake, California