Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) Annual Notice

Ukiah Unified School District 2017-18

The Ukiah Unified School District has the primary responsibility to insure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations and has established procedures to address allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying, and complaints alleging violation of state or federal laws governing educational programs and the charging of unlawful pupil fees.

The Ukiah Unified School District shall investigate and seek to resolve complaints using policies and procedures known as the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) adopted by our local board. Unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying complaints may be based on actual or perceived age, ancestry, color, ethnic group identification, gender expression, gender identity, gender, disability, nationality, national origin, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or on a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, in any program or activity that receives or benefits from state financial assistance. 

The UCP shall also be used when addressing complaints alleging failure to comply with state and/or federal laws in:

A complaint of noncompliance with laws relating to pupil fees may be filed pursuant to the local UCP. A pupil enrolled in a public school shall not be required to pay a pupil fee for participation in an educational activity.  A pupil fees and/or LCAP complaint may be filed anonymously if the complainant provides evidence or information leading to evidence to support the complaint.

A pupil fee includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:

1. A fee charged to a pupil as a condition for registering for school or classes, or as a condition for participation in a class or an extracurricular activity, regardless of whether the class or activity is elective or compulsory, or is for credit.
2. A security deposit, or other payment, that a pupil is required to make to obtain a lock, locker, book, class apparatus, musical instrument, clothes, or other materials or equipment.
3. A purchase that a pupil is required to make to obtain materials, supplies, equipment, or clothes associated with an educational activity.

A pupil fee complaint shall not be filed later than one year from the date the alleged violation occurred.

Complaints other than complaints relating to pupil fees must be filed in writing with the following compliance officer:

Title:  Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources

Office: UUSD District Service Center                                                                                

Address: 511 S. Orchard Ave., Ukiah CA 95482

Phone: 707-472-5030

Complaints alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, must be filed within six (6) months from the date the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, occurred or the date the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, unless the time for filing is extended by the superintendent or his or her designee.

Complaints will be investigated and a written Decision or report will be sent to the complainant within sixty (60) days from the receipt of the complaint. This sixty (60) day time period may be extended by written agreement of the complainant. The LEA person responsible for investigating the complaint shall conduct and complete the investigation in accordance with sections 4680-4687 and in accordance with local procedures adopted under section 4621. 

The complainant has a right to appeal Ukiah Unified School District’s Decision to the California Department of Education (CDE) by filing a written appeal within 15 days of receiving Ukiah Unified School District’s Decision. The appeal must include a copy of the complaint filed with Ukiah Unified School District and a copy of Ukiah Unified School District’s Decision.

Civil law remedies may be available under state or federal discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying laws, if applicable. In appropriate cases, an appeal may be filed pursuant to Education Code Section 262.3. A complainant may pursue available civil law remedies outside of Ukiah Unified School District’s complaint procedures. Complainants may seek assistance from mediation centers or public/private interest attorneys. Civil law remedies that may be imposed by a court include, but are not limited to, injunctions and restraining orders.

A copy of the Ukiah Unified School District’s UCP policy and complaint procedures shall be available free of charge.