POLICIES & PROCEDURES / Title IX and Gender Equity
Non-Discrimination PolicyThe Governing Board is committed to equal opportunity for all individuals in education. District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from discrimination based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or genetic information; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. The Board shall promote programs which ensure that discriminatory practices are eliminated in all district activities. (BP 0410)
Title IX & Gender EquityStudent Rights Under Title IXFederal Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”), implemented at 34 C.F.R. § 106.31, subd. (a), provides that no person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other education program or activity operated by a recipient which receives federal financial assistance. Relevant here, Title IX requires the Milpitas Unified School District (MUSD) to take immediate and appropriate action to investigate when it knows or reasonably should know of a possible Title IX violation.
Title IX Coordinators/Compliance OfficersThe Title IX Coordinators/Compliance Officers handle complaints regarding gender equity, sexual harassment, and all forms of discrimination, including harassment, intimidation and bullying because of actual or perceived disability, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race, ethnicity, color, ancestry, religion, sexual orientation, age, marital or parental status, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. In the event of a complaint regarding gender equity, sexual harassment, or any form of discrimination, please contact one of the Title IX Coordinators/Compliance Officers (also referred to herein and under Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 1312.3 as the "compliance officer"):
Title IX, Formal Complaint Policy, Harassment concerning Staff Damon James, Interim Assistant Superintendent of Human Relations (408) 635-2600, extension 6071 | djames@musd.org 1331 E. Calaveras Blvd. Milpitas, CA 95035 Title IX, Uniform Complaint Policy, Harassment, Equity concerning Students Jeff Weiss, Director of Special Education and Student Services (408) 635-2600, extension 6049| jweiss@musd.org 1331 E. Calaveras Blvd. Milpitas, CA 95035 Filing a Title IX Complaint with MUSDStudent complaints shall be submitted in written form in accordance with Board Policy and Administrative Regulation 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures. If the complainant is unable to prepare the complaint in writing, administrative staff shall help them to do so.
Complaints must be filed within six months from the date when the alleged unlawful discrimination occurred, or from the date the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying that is based on sex. The time for filing may be extended up to 90 days by the Superintendent or the Superintendent’s designee, for good cause, upon written request by the complainant setting forth the reasons for the request for an extension of time to file a written complaint. The compliance officer may informally discuss with all parties the possibility of using mediation within three business days after the compliance officer receives the complaint, if the mediation is deemed appropriate under the circumstances. All complaints shall be appropriately investigated in a timely manner. Within 10 business days after the compliance officer receives the complaint, the compliance officer, or designee, shall begin an investigation into the complaint. The investigation shall include an opportunity for the complainant, or the complainant’s representative, or both, to present the compliance officer, or designee, with any evidence, or information leading to evidence, to support the allegations in the complaint. MUSD will issue a written decision based on the evidence within 30 calendar days from receipt of the written complaint, unless this timeline is extended by a written agreement with the complainant. Within 30 calendar days of receiving the complaint, the compliance officer will prepare and send to the complainant a written report of MUSD’s investigation and decision. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the compliance officer’s decision, he/she may, within five business days, file his/her complaint in writing with the MUSD Board of Education (“Board”). The Board will have the option of considering the complaint at its next regular Board meeting or at a special meeting. Should the Board choose not to hear the complaint, the compliance officer’s decision will be final. Should the Board choose to hear the complaint, the compliance officer shall send the Board’s decision to the complainant within 30 calendar days from receipt of the written complaint or within the time period agreed to in writing by the complainant. Any complainant who is dissatisfied with MUSD's final written decision may file an appeal in writing with the California Department of Education within 15 calendar days of receiving MUSD's decision. Complaints made by or on behalf of students may also be filed with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights within 180 calendar days of the date of the alleged discrimination, unless the time for filing is extended by the Office for Civil Rights for good cause shown under certain circumstances. To file a Title IX Complaint, please contact your school's principal. You may also contact the District's Title IX Coordinator, Jeff Weiss at jweiss@musd.org.Student Rights Pursuant to Education Code Section 221.8Education Code section 221.8 provides as follows:
The following list of rights, which are based on the relevant provisions of the federal regulations implementing Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1681 et seq.), may be used by the department for purposes of Section 221.6:
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Board PoliciesSee something? Say something.Keep Schools Safe by Sharing Safety Concerns. Contact your school principal or Contact Us 408-635-2600, ext. 6077
Complaints regarding Title IX for Staff: Interim Assistant Superintendent, Human Relations, Damon James; (408) 635-2600, x6071 Complaints regarding Title IX for Students: Director of Special Education and Student Services, Jeff Weiss. Training
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