James High School

Additionally, the school prohibits any form of retaliation against individuals who oppose discriminatory practices or participate in any Title IX complaint process. For further information regarding our responsibilities under Title IX, please refer to the following resources:
 

• California Office of Equal Opportunity

• U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights
 

Summary of Student Rights (Ed Code 221.8)

As a student at James Elementary, you are entitled to:

• Fair and equitable treatment without discrimination based on gender.
• Equal opportunities to participate in all academic and extracurricular activities, including sports.
• The right to inquire about available athletic opportunities from the athletic director.
• Eligibility to apply for athletic scholarships.
• Equitable treatment and benefits in the following areas:
• Equipment and supplies
• Scheduling of games and practices
• Transportation and daily allowances
• Access to tutoring
• Coaching
• Locker room facilities
• Practice and competition venues
• Medical and training facilities and services
• Publicity

You can reach out to our gender equity coordinator for assistance with questions related to gender equity laws. You also have the right to contact the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) for additional information regarding gender equity.

If you believe you have experienced discrimination or unequal treatment based on gender, you have the right to file a confidential complaint with the U.S. Office for Civil Rights (OCR) or the CDE. You can pursue civil remedies for any discrimination you may have faced, and you are protected from retaliation for filing a complaint.

 

Definition of Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment, as defined under Title IX regulations, refers to any conduct based on sex that meets one or more of the following criteria:

• A district employee conditioning the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the school on a student’s participation in unwelcome sexual conduct.

• Unwelcome behavior deemed by a reasonable person to be so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies an individual equal access to the school’s educational programs or activities.

• Conduct categorized as “sexual assault,” “dating violence,” “domestic violence,” or “stalking” as outlined in federal law. Detailed definitions are also available in Administrative Regulation 5145.7.

According to California Education Code section 212.5, sexual harassment is characterized as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or any other verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature made in the educational setting under any of the following conditions:

• Submission to such conduct is explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or academic progress.

• Acceptance or rejection of the conduct is used as a basis for employment or academic decisions.

• The conduct negatively impacts the individual’s performance or creates an intimidating or hostile educational environment.

• The submission to or rejection of such conduct is used as the basis for decisions regarding benefits, services, honors, programs, or activities available at the school.

How to File a Title IX Complaint

If you believe you have been subjected to discrimination under Title IX, you may file a complaint with the school or the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). In cases of criminal activity, such as sexual assault, a report may also be filed with local law enforcement. Individuals have the right to pursue one or more of these options simultaneously.

District Complaint: Title IX complaints can be filed through the district’s uniform complaint procedure, outlined in Board Policy No. 1312.3.

Uniform Complaint Procedure

• Time Requirement: Complaints must be submitted within six (6) months of the incident or your awareness of it. Upon written request detailing reasons for an extension, the Superintendent or designee may extend this period by up to ninety (90) days for valid reasons. If you have questions regarding this timeline or believe your situation may be outside this timeframe, please contact the Title IX Coordinator.

• Investigation Procedure: Upon receiving a Title IX complaint, the school will conduct a prompt, thorough, and impartial investigation of all allegations. We are committed to protecting complainants from retaliation and ensuring fair treatment for all parties involved throughout the investigation. The District will take necessary steps to prevent recurrence of any unlawful discrimination and remedy any discriminatory effects as appropriate. The procedure for investigating Title IX complaints can be found in Administrative Regulation No. 1312.3. If you have any questions, please reach out to the Title IX Coordinator.

OCR Complaint
If you wish to appeal the District’s decision, you may do so by submitting a written appeal to the California Department of Education’s Office of Equal Opportunity within 15 days of receiving the findings. Complaints can also be filed directly with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.
 

• Time Requirement: Complaints to OCR must be filed within 180 calendar days of the alleged discrimination. For questions regarding this timeline, please contact OCR.

• Investigation Procedure: For more information regarding the OCR investigation process, please refer to the resources provided.

For assistance in filing a complaint with OCR, contact the California regional office at:

Office for Civil Rights U.S. Department of Education
50 United Nations Plaza
Mail Box 1200, Room 1545
San Francisco, CA 94102
Telephone: 415-486-5555
FAX: 415-486-5570
TDD: 800-877-8339
Email: ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov

For Questions Related to Title IX:
Robert Pogue
Director of Human Resources
Email: [contact email]
Phone: 530-822-7661

Feel free to modify any sections further to align more closely with your school’s specific language or guidelines!