Nondiscrimination Statement

The Cabrillo Unified School District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics of race or ethnicity, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or based on the person's association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. For questions or complaints regarding this policy, please contact Bianca Forrester, Director of Personnel and Pupil Services, Equity/ Title IX Compliance Officer at (650) 638-8447.

Discrimination on the Basis of Sex

Harassment and other discrimination on the basis of sex include, but are not limited to, the following practices:

(a) On the basis of sex, exclusion of a person or persons from participation in, denial of the benefits of, or subjection to harassment or other discrimination in, any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other program or activity.

(b) On the basis of sex, provision of different amounts or types of student financial aid, limitation of eligibility for student financial aid, or the application of different criteria to applicants for student financial aid or for participation in the provision of student financial aid by others. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prohibit an educational institution from administering, or assisting in the administration of, scholarships, fellowships, or other forms of student financial aid, established pursuant to domestic or foreign wills, bequests, trusts, or similar legal instruments or by acts of a foreign government, which require that awards be made to members of a particular sex; provided, that the overall effect of the award of these sex-restricted scholarships, fellowships, and other forms of student financial aid does not discriminate on the basis of sex.

(c) On the basis of sex, exclusion from participation in, or denial of equivalent opportunity in, athletic programs. For purposes of this subdivision, “equivalent” means equal or equal in effect. (California Education Code 230 (a)(b)(c))

Title IX

Title IX is a federal law that was passed in 1972 to ensure that male and female students and employees in educational settings are treated equally and fairly. It protects against discrimination based on sex (including sexual harassment). In addition, Title IX protects transgender students and students who do not conform to gender stereotypes. State law also prohibits discrimination based on gender (sex), gender expression, gender identity, and sexual orientation. The preamble to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states that:

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

CUSD has a designated Title IX officer who is responsible for coordinating compliance with Title IX and implementing the Policy on Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment.

Title IX training provided by San Mateo County Office of Education/ Dora J. Dome, Attorney At Law: Title IX 2020 Regulations

James Barnes, Coordinator of Student Services
District Title IX Coordinator
[email protected]
(650) 638-8447

Bullying

Bullying is an aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived imbalance of power between individuals with the intent to cause emotional or physical harm. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social/relational and may involve a single severe act or repetition or potential repetition of a deliberate act.  Bullying includes, but is not limited to, any act described in Education Code 48900(r).

Cyberbullying includes the electronic creation or transmission of harassing communications, direct threats, or other harmful texts, sounds, or images.  Cyberbullying also includes breaking into another person's electronic account or assuming that person's online identity in order to damage that person's reputation.

Examples of the types of conduct that may constitute bullying and are prohibited by the district include, but are not limited to:

1. Physical bullying:  An act that inflicts harm upon a person's body or possessions, such as hitting, kicking, pinching, spitting, tripping, pushing, taking or breaking someone's possessions, or making cruel or rude hand gestures
    

2. Verbal bullying:  An act that includes saying or writing hurtful things, such as teasing, name-calling, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting, or threats to cause harm
    

3. Social/relational bullying:  An act that harms a person's reputation or relationships, such as leaving a person out of an activity on purpose, influencing others not to be friends with someone, spreading rumors, or embarrassing someone in public
    

4. Cyberbullying:  An act such as sending demeaning or hateful text messages or emails, spreading rumors by email or by posting on social networking sites, or posting or sharing embarrassing photos, videos, web site, or fake profiles

Measures to Prevent Bullying

The Superintendent or designee shall implement measures to prevent bullying in district schools, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Ensuring that each school establishes clear rules for student conduct and implements strategies to promote a positive, collaborative school climate
    

2. Providing information to students, through student handbooks, district and school web sites and social media, and other age-appropriate means, about district and school rules related to bullying, mechanisms available for reporting incidents or threats, and the consequences for engaging in bullying
    

3. Encouraging students to notify school staff when they are being bullied or when they suspect that another student is being bullied, and providing means by which students may report threats or incidents confidentially and anonymously
    

4. Conducting an assessment of bullying incidents at each school and, if necessary, increasing supervision and security in areas where bullying most often occurs, such as playgrounds, hallways, restrooms, and cafeterias
    

5. Annually notifying district employees that, pursuant to Education Code 234.1, any school staff who witnesses an act of bullying against a student has a responsibility to immediately intervene to stop the incident when it is safe to do so  (AR 5131.2)

Bullying & Hate-Motivated Behavior Prevention

A list of statewide resources, including community-based organizations, that provide support to youth who have been subjected to school-based discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and their families. Link

Safe Schools for Safe Learning Act of 2013

A list of statewide resources for youth who have been affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological trauma caused by violence at home, at school, and in the community. Link

Prevention and Response to Hate Violence

As a district, CUSD is committed to ensuring all students and all staff are protected from hate-motivated behavior that might interfere with and negatively impact anyone’s academic progress and/or social-emotional wellbeing.

Staff Responsibilities 

Employees shall support the District’s efforts to prevent hate-motivated incidents by learning to recognize the indicators of such actions and effectively taking steps to intervene immediately when such actions occur. Employees are expected to report such situations/incidents to their principal or other site administrator immediately after becoming aware of any such incident(s). All CUSD employees share a responsibility for creating an environment where students and staff know that hate-motivated incidents will not be tolerated. Employees are expected to encourage anyone alleging that he or she is a target of, or a witness to, a hate motivated incident/crime to report such an incident. Moreover, employees are expected to cooperate in any investigation of a hate-motivated incident. Finally, employees are expected to guard against any actions that could be considered retaliatory against anyone who has made a report or is participating in an investigation of a hate-motivated incident/crime.

Student Responsibilities 

Students shall be informed that Cabrillo Unified School District and its schools do not tolerate hate-motivated incidents or crimes. Hate-motivated incidents may result in school discipline, including but not limited to suspension or expulsion. Hate-motivated incidents may also result in involvement of the local law enforcement agencies. Students share a responsibility with district employees for creating a safe school environment, and students need to know they can do that by treating others with mutual respect and acceptance. Students are expected to be sensitive as to how others might perceive their actions and/or words. Students are expected to not engage in or contribute to hate-motivated behaviors, actions, or words. In cases where students may be a witness to or a target of a hate-motivated incident/crime, they have a responsibility to report such an incident to the principal or other site administrator. Students are expected never to engage in retaliatory behavior or to ask, encourage, or consent to anyone taking retaliatory actions on their behalf. 

Steps Taken After Hate-Motivated Incidents Are Reported
 
School and/or district administrators will investigate all reports of hate-motivated incidents, and administrators will ask students, staff, and other witnesses to document what occurred as part of that investigation. Administrators will collect and maintain copies of incident report forms for completeness and then determine whether additional information might be needed and what District policy procedures are to be followed. School administrators will determine whether additional resources or assistance might be required or suggested to the school. As appropriate, school administrators will confer with district administrators and provide a summary of the incident reports to the Superintendent (or designee) as often as necessary. School and/or district administrators will work to inform the school and/or community as appropriate, denounce any hate-motivated incident(s), and discuss how counseling resources, disciplinary responses, and/or restorative practices will address the incident. In cases where hate-motivated incidents require the involvement of law enforcement, CUSD employees shall be expected to cooperate with local law enforcement agencies to investigate any potential hate-motivated crimes.

For more information please see Cabrillo Unified School District Policy 5145.9 Hate-Motivated Behavior

The Cabrillo Unified School Governing Board is committed to providing equal opportunity for all individuals in district programs and activities. District programs, activities, and practices shall be free from unlawful discrimination, including discrimination against an individual or group based on race, color, ancestry, nationality, national origin, immigration status, ethnic group identification, ethnicity, age, religion, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or genetic information; a 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.

For more information and to access the Cabrillo Unified School District Policy Manual please visit GAMUT Policy Plus.

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