Bullying

The Cucamonga School District is committed to providing a safe learning environment that protects students from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying, and other behavior motivated by a person's hostility towards another person's real or perceived ethnicity, national origin, immigrant status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, or any other physical or cultural characteristic. The Superintendent or designee shall design strategies to promote harmonious relationships among students, prevent incidents of hate-motivated behavior to the extent possible, and address such incidents if they occur.

Any student, parent/guardian, or other individual who believes that a student has been subjected to bullying or who has witnessed bullying may report the incident to a teacher, the principal, a compliance officer, or any other available school employee. Within one business day of receiving such a report, a staff member shall notify the principal of the report, whether or not a uniform complaint is filed. In addition, any school employee who observes an incident of bullying involving a student shall, within one business day, report his/her observation to the principal or a district compliance officer, whether or not the alleged victim files a complaint.

Within two business days of receiving a report of bullying, the principal shall notify the district compliance officer identified in AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures.

(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)

When the circumstances involve cyberbullying, individuals with information about the activity shall be encouraged to save and print any electronic or digital messages that they feel constitute cyberbullying and to notify a teacher, the principal, or other employee so that the matter may be investigated. When a student uses a social networking site or service to bully or harass another student, the Superintendent or designee may file a request with the networking site or service to suspend the privileges of the student and to have the material removed.

When a report of bullying is submitted, the principal or a district compliance officer shall inform the student or parent/guardian of the right to file a formal written complaint in accordance with AR 1312.3. The student who is the alleged victim of the bullying shall be given an opportunity to describe the incident, identify witnesses who may have relevant information, and provide other evidence of bullying.

Any complaint of bullying shall be investigated and, if determined to be discriminatory, resolved in accordance with law and the district's uniform complaint procedures specified in AR 1312.3.

If, during the investigation, it is determined that a complaint is about nondiscriminatory bullying, the principal or designee shall inform the complainant and shall take all necessary actions to resolve the complaint.

Corrective actions for a student who commits an act of bullying of any type may include counseling, behavioral intervention and education, and, if the behavior is severe or pervasive as defined in Education Code 48900, may include suspension or expulsion in accordance with district policies and regulations.

Any student who has been a victim of bullying or harassment, or someone who has witnessed bullying or harassment, on school grounds, during school activities, going to and coming from school, or when applicable, off-campus during non-school hours, is highly encouraged to report the incident. Students should immediately contact an administrator, counselor, teacher or other school staff member to report an incident. Students who wish to remain anonymous may report an incident by completing a Bullying/Harassment Incident Form and submitting it to any school staff member. These forms are available in the school office or online at the District / School website.

The principal or designee shall promptly investigate all complaints of bullying or sexual harassment. The student who reports the complaint shall have an opportunity to complete a Bullying/Harassment Incident Form, providing details of the event, including the identity of the alleged perpetrator, a detailed description of the event, known witnesses, and anyone else they have shared the information with. Within 10 school days of the reported incident, the principal or designee shall provide a written response to the complainant and his/her parent/guardian. The written response shall include the administrator’s findings, decision, as well as the rationale for the decision. If the student or parent/guardian is in disagreement with the outcome of the investigation, an appeal may be filed at the Department of Child Welfare, Attendance & Records at 8776 Archibald Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730.

A child that has been reported as the victim of a violent offense as defined by state law is entitled to transfer to another school within or outside of the District, under California Education Code 46600 § (b). Placement at a requested school is contingent upon space availability. Transfer requests can be obtained at the Department of Child Welfare, Attendance & Records located at 8776 Archibald Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, Ca 91730.

The Cucamonga School District takes all bullying (actual or perceived) accusations very seriously.

The Cucamonga School District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on the actual or perceived characteristics of a person’s 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. This policy applies to all acts related to school activities on campus and may include acts occurring off campus during non-school hours.

Bullying is defined as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, known as cyber-bullying, and including one or more acts committed by a pupil or group of pupils directed toward one or more pupils that has, or can be reasonably predicted to have, the effect of causing a reasonable pupil to experience a substantially detrimental effect on the pupil’s physical or mental health, academic performance, or ability to participate in school activities.

Please see the information/forms below regarding reporting of bullying incidents:

Completion of this form(s) will initiate an investigation of the alleged incident of bullying or harassment outlined in this form. All information will be confidential except for that which must be shared as part of the investigation. Submission of a good faith complaint or report of bullying or harassment will not affect the complainant or reporter’s future employment, grades, learning, or working environment or work assignment. By signing above, you are verifying that your statements are true and exact to the best of your knowledge.