Student Rights & Resources
Non-Discrimination Statement
Washington Unified School District Nondiscrimination Policy (BP 5145.3) - The Governing Board desires to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the district's academic, extracurricular, and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying, targeted at any student by anyone, based on the student's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, immigration status, nationality, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.
Jay Berns, Ed.D., Director of Special Programs & Student Services
Title IX Coordinator (matters pertaining to students) Equity Compliance Officer (matters pertaining to students) 504 Coordinator (916) 375-7600 x 1370 jberns@wusd.k12.ca.us 930 Westacre Road
West Sacramento, CA 95691 |
Shea Borges, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources
Title IX Coordinator (matters pertaining to staff) Equity Compliance Officer (matters pertaining to staff) ADA Coordinator (916) 375-7604 ext. 1046 sborges@wusd.k12.ca.us 930 Westacre Road
West Sacramento, CA 95691 |
Definition of Sexual Harassment
The Title IX regulations define sexual harassment as conduct, performed on the basis of sex, that satisfies one or more of the following:
- A District employee conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the District on a student or individual’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct;
- Unwelcome conduct determined by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the District’s education program or activity; or,
- “Sexual assault” as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1092(f)(6)(A)(v), “dating violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(10), “domestic violence” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 1229(a)(8), or “stalking” as defined in 34 U.S.C. 12291(a)(30). These definitions are also available in AR 5145.7.
California Education Code section 212.5 defines sexual harassment as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature, made by someone from or in the work or educational setting, under any of the following conditions:
- Submission to the conduct is explicitly or implicitly made a term or a condition of an individual’s employment, academic status, or progress.
- Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as the basis of employment or academic decisions affecting the individual.
- The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact upon the individual’s work or academic performance, or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work or educational environment.
- Submission to, or rejection of, the conduct by the individual is used as the basis for any decision affecting the individual regarding benefits and services, honors, programs, or activities available at or through the educational institution.
Definition of Sexual Discrimination
Student Sexual Harassment Policy
The Governing Board is committed to maintaining a safe school environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. The Board prohibits, at school or at school-sponsored or school-related activities, sexual harassment targeted at any student by anyone. The Board also prohibits retaliatory behavior or action against any person who reports, files a complaint, or testifies about, or otherwise supports a complainant in alleging sexual harassment.
The district strongly encourages any student who feels that he/she is being or has been sexually harassed on school grounds or at a school-sponsored or school-related activity by another student or an adult who has experienced off-campus sexual harassment that has a continuing effect on campus to immediately contact his/her teacher, the principal, or any other available school employee. Any employee who receives a report or observes an incident of sexual harassment shall notify the principal or a district compliance officer. Once notified, the principal or compliance officer shall take the steps to investigate and address the allegation, as specified in the accompanying administrative regulation.
Student Rights Under Title IX - SB 1375
In the event of a complaint regarding gender equity or sexual harassment, or 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, contact one of the following Title IX and Nondiscrimination Coordinators. Click here for more information.
Uniform Complaint Procedures/Annual Notice
The first step in resolving a complaint is to speak with the staff involved and/or the administrator of the school site. If there are issues that cannot be resolved there or if the issue is very serious, a more formal process may be followed. Information about how to file complaints can be found in Board policy 1312-1312.4. Board policies are accessible through the Board of Education section of this website. Learn more about the Uniform Complaint Procedures.
Bullying/Cyberbullying Prevention
The Washington Unified (WUSD) Governing Board recognizes the harmful effects of bullying on student learning and school attendance and desires to provide safe school environments that protect students from physical and emotional harm. District employees shall establish student safety as a high priority and shall not tolerate bullying of any student. No individual or group shall, through physical, written, verbal, or other means, harass, sexually harass, threaten, intimidate, retaliate, cyberbully, cause bodily injury to, or commit hate violence against any student or school personnel.
Cyberbullying includes the creation or transmission of harassing communications, direct threats, or other harmful texts, sounds, or images on the Internet, social media, or other technologies using a telephone, computer, or any wireless communication device. Cyberbullying also includes breaking into another person's electronic account and assuming that person's identity in order to damage that person's reputation.
WUSD has developed strategies for addressing bullying in district schools shall be developed with the involvement of key stakeholders, including students, parents, guardians, caregivers, foster parents, and educational rights holders, and staff, and may be incorporated into the comprehensive safety plan, the local control and accountability plan, and other applicable district and school plans.
Suicide Prevention
The Washington Unified (WUSD) Governing Board recognizes that suicide is a leading cause of death among youth and that school personnel who regularly interact with students are often in a position to recognize the warning signs of suicide and to offer appropriate referral and/or assistance.In an effort to reduce suicidal behavior and its impact on students and families, the Superintendent or designee shall develop measures and strategies for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.
In developing measures and strategies for use by the district, the Superintendent or designee may consult with school health professionals, school counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, administrators, other staff, parents/guardians, students, suicide prevention experts, local health agencies, mental health professionals, and community organizations.
Married/Pregnant/Parenting Students
The Washington Unified (WUSD) Governing Board recognizes that early marriage, pregnancy, or parenting, and related responsibilities may limit or disrupt a student’s education and increase the probability of a student dropping out of school. Therefore, WUSD desires to support married, pregnant, and parenting students to continue their education, attain strong academic and parenting skills, and promote the healthy development of their children. We do not exclude, deny, or discriminate any student from any educational program or activity solely on the basis of marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, false pregnancy, termination of pregnancy, or recovery therefrom.
To the extent feasible, educational and related support services shall be provided, either through the district or in collaboration with community agencies and organizations, to meet the needs of pregnant and parenting students and their children.