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Policies & Filing Complaints
STEP 1: INFORMAL COMPLAINT PROCESS
The Redwood City School District (RCSD) strives to empower site and department leadership members to resolve issues early and at an informal level. All complaints should be initiated at the earliest level. The initial step should always begin with the immediate supervisor of the department, school site, or program. If attempts to resolve at this level are unsuccessful, the district has processes available to assist with resolution through a formal level.
Complaints concerning school site personnel (teachers, classified staff, parents, students, programs, etc,) should be directed to the appropriate Assistant Principal/Principal.
Complaints concerning District programs should be directed to the appropriate department/person in charge of the program.
Complaints concerning District Administrators (Principals, Directors, Coordinators, etc.) should be directed to the Human Resources Department.
Title IX and Gender Equity complaints See Step 2: Formal Complaint Process and Contacts.
STEP 2: FORMAL COMPLAINT PROCESS
If you have gone through the informal process and find yourself at the point of needing to file a formal complaint, we are here to help.
Below are the Board Policies, Administrative Regulations, and Forms to assist you with determining what type of complaint process you may want to file under. Please review the documents and proceed with filing the appropriate form. Again, please understand, these forms are only necessary if you wish to pursue the formal complaint process.
Completed complaint forms should be directed to:
Wendy Kelly, Deputy Superintendent
Redwood City School District
750 Bradford St.
Redwood City, CA 94063
A) Complaints concerning District employees
Concerns raised by parents/guardians about school district personnel should be resolved as quickly as possible. Therefore, parents or guardians of students in the RCSD are urged to discuss their concerns directly with the employee(s) in question when concerns surface. If this does not solve the problem, please complete the Complaints regarding District employees form found here and submit to Wendy Kelly, Deputy Superintendent.
B) Williams Complaints/Uniform Complaint Procedure
A Williams Complaint regards instructional materials, emergency or urgent facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of pupils, and teacher vacancy or misassignment and may be filed anonymously. Williams Complaints are filed with the principal, or their designee, of the school in which the complaint arises.
UCP complaints can be filed by completing the complaint form (English) complaint form (Spanish).
The Redwood City School District has the primary responsibility for compliance with federal and state laws and regulations. We have established Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) to address allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying, and complaints alleging violation of state or federal laws governing educational programs, the charging of unlawful pupil fees and the non-compliance of our Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).
We will investigate all allegations of unlawful discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying against any protected group as identified in Education Code section 200 and 220 and Government Code section 11135, including any actual or perceived characteristics as set forth in Penal Code section 422.55 or on the basis or a person’s association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics in any program or activity conducted by the agency, which is funded directly by, or that receives or benefits from any state financial assistance.
The UCP shall also be used when addressing complaints alleging failure to comply with state and/or federal laws in Adult Education, After School Education and Safety, Agricultural Vocational Education, Early Childhood Education Program Assessments, Bilingual Education, California Peer Assistance and Review Programs for Teachers, Career Technical and Technical Education and Career Technical and Technical Training, Child Care and Development, Child Nutrition, Compensatory Education, Consolidated Categorical Aid, Course Periods without Educational Content, Economic Impact Aid, Education of Pupils in Foster Care and Pupils who are Homeless, Every Student Succeeds Act / No Child Left Behind, Local Control Accountability Plans (including Charter Schools as described in EC §§ 47606.5 and 47607.3), Migrant Education, Physical Education Instructional Minutes, Pupil Fees, Regional Occupational Centers and Programs, School Safety Plans, Special Education, State Preschool, and Tobacco-Use Prevention Education.
A pupil fee includes, but is not limited to, all of the following:
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A fee charged to a pupil as a condition for registering for school or classes, or as a condition for participation in a class or an extracurricular activity, regardless of whether the class or activity is elective or compulsory, or is for credit.
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A security deposit, or other payment, that a pupil is required to make to obtain a lock, locker, book, class apparatus, musical instrument, clothes, or other materials or equipment.
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A purchase that a pupil is required to make to obtain materials, supplies, equipment, or clothes associated with an educational activity.
A pupil fees or LCAP complaint may be filed anonymously if the complainant provides evidence or information leading to evidence to support the complaint.
A pupil enrolled in a public school shall not be required to pay a pupil fee for participation in an educational activity. A pupil fee complaint shall be filed no later than one year from the date the alleged violation occurred.
We shall post a standardized notice of the educational rights of foster and homeless youth, as specified in Education Code Sections 48853, 48853.5, 48853.5, 49069.5, 51225.1, and 51225.2. This notice shall include complaint process information, as applicable.
Complaints other than issues relating to pupil fees must be filed in writing with the following designated to receive complaints:
Wendy Kelly
Deputy Superintendent
Redwood City School District
750 Bradford St.
Redwood City, CA 94063
650-482-2251
A pupil fees complaint is filed with the Redwood City School District and/or the principal of a school.
Complaints alleging discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, must be filed within six (6) months from the date the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, occurred or the date the complainant first obtained knowledge of the facts of the alleged discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, unless the time for filing is extended by the superintendent or his or her designee.
Complaints will be investigated and a written Decision or report will be sent to the complainant within sixty (60) days from the receipt of the complaint. This time period may be extended by written agreement of the complainant. The person responsible for investigating the complaint shall conduct and complete the investigation in accordance with local procedures adopted under section 4621.
The complainant has a right to appeal our Decision of complaints regarding specific programs, pupil fees and the LCAP to the California Department of Education (CDE) by filing a written appeal within 15 days of receiving our Decision. The appeal must be accompanied by a copy of the originally-filed complaint and a copy of our Decision.
The complainant is advised of civil law remedies, including, but not limited to, injunctions, restraining orders, or other remedies or orders that may be available under state or federal discrimination, harassment, intimidation or bullying laws, if applicable. Complainants are protected from retaliation.
A copy of our UCP compliant policies and procedures is available free of charge.