Williams Compliant Procedures

The Armona Union Elementary School District is committed to establishing policies and procedures to address complaints regarding insufficiency of textbooks and instructional materials, teacher vacancy or misassignment, and emergency or urgent facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of students or staff (California Ed Code §35186). When such a complaint is filed with the district, the district is required to investigate and resolve the complaint in accordance with the Williams complaint procedures established pursuant to 5 CCR 4680-4687.

The Eliezer Williams, et al., vs. State of California, et al. (Williams) case was filed as a class action in 2000 in San Francisco County Superior Court. The plaintiffs included nearly 100 San Francisco County pupils, who filed suit against the State of California and state education agencies, including the California Department of Education (CDE). The basis of the lawsuit was that the agencies failed to provide public school pupils with equal access to instructional materials, safe and decent school facilities, and qualified teachers. After four years of intense litigation, the parties in the case reached a Settlement Agreement on August 13, 2004. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed laws implementing the legislative proposals set forth in the parties’ Settlement Agreement on September 29, 2004.

For Williams inquiries or complaints related to insufficiency of textbooks and instructional materials, teacher vacancy or misassignment, and emergency or urgent facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of students or staff, please contact:

Irma Castillo Title IX Coordinator/Compliance Officer Armona Union Elementary School District 11115 C Street PO Box 368 Armona, CA 93202 (559) 583-5000 icastillo@auesd.org

Uniform Complaint Procedures

The Armona Union Elementary School District has the responsibility to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and regulations, and shall investigate complaints alleging failure to comply with those laws and regulations, including but not limited to, allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying against any protected group, or noncompliance with laws relating to all programs and activities implemented by the District that are subject to the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP). The District shall seek to resolve those complaints of noncompliance pursuant to procedures in §§4600-4694 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations (CCR) and the District’s governing board policies and procedures under the UCP, including allegations of retaliation for participation in the UCP process and/or to appeal District decisions regarding such complaints.

The UCP may also be used to address complaints alleging retaliation against a complainant or other participant in the complaint process or anyone who has acted to uncover or report a violation subject to the regulations governing the UCP process. When an allegation that is not subject to the UCP is included in a UCP complaint, the District Civil Rights and Compliance Office will refer the non-UCP allegation to the appropriate staff or agency and shall work to resolve any UCP-related allegation(s) through the District’s UCP process. UCP brochures are available at all school sites in the primary languages of that school community free of charge. Complainants are encouraged, where possible, to try to resolve their complaints directly at the school or work site.

Any individual, including a person’s duly authorized representative, public agency, or organization may file a written complaint alleging a matter which, if true, would constitute a violation by the District of federal or state laws or regulations governing the programs and activities as well as allegations of unlawful discrimination identified above. UCP complaints may be walked in, emailed, or submitted in writing to:

Irma Castillo Title IX Coordinator/Compliance Officer Armona Union Elementary School District 11115 C Street PO Box 368 Armona, CA 93202 (559) 583-5000 icastillo@auesd.org

Any complainant has the right to file a written complaint of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying on the basis of a protected category within six months from the date the alleged incident occurred, or when the complainant first obtained knowledge/facts of the alleged incident. All other complaints regarding District programs, services or activities shall be filed no later than one year from the date the alleged violation occurred. For LCAP, the date of the alleged violation is the date when the reviewing authority approves the LCAP or annual update that was adopted by the District.

Any person with a disability or who is unable to prepare a written complaint can receive assistance from the Principal or by calling the Superintendent's Office at (559) 583-5000.

The District assures confidentiality to the maximum extent possible. The District prohibits retaliation against anyone who files a complaint or anyone who participates in the complaint investigation process. Complainants are advised that civil law remedies may also be available to them.

The sixty (60) day timeline for the investigation and District response shall begin when the written complaint is received by the District Civil Rights and Compliance Office.

All Uniform Complaint Procedure complaint findings may be appealed within 30-days of receipt to the state at:

California Department of Education1430 N Street Sacramento, CA 95814www.cde.ca.gov/re/cp/uc