Uniform Complaint Procedure Williams Title IX

Nondiscrimination Statement

Notice of Non- Discrimination: Bellflower Unified School District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived ancestry, age, color, mental or physical disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, immigration status, marital status, parental status, pregnancy status, medical information or association with a person or a group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. Parents/students who have questions or concerns about the policy can contact William Avila, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Title IX and Equity Compliance Officer, 16703 S. Clark Avenue, Bellflower, CA 90706, williamavila@busd.k12.ca.us, (562) 866-9011 ext. 2017. For more information, visit the Non-Discrimination Title IX section in the Quick Links or the U.S. Department of Education website.

For more information, visit the Non-Discrimination Title IX section in the Quick Links or the U.S. Department of Education website.

Pupils have the right to a free public education, regardless of immigration status or religious beliefs. More information about these rights is available from the California Attorney General, click on the links below to learn more.

Know Your Rights - English

Know Your Rights - Spanish

Title IX Compliance

Policy against Discrimination Based on Sex

The Bellflower Unified School District is committed to providing educational programs that are free from unlawful discrimination based on legally protected characteristics, including sex and gender as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The District’s general nondiscrimination/harassment policy is found at: Board Policy 5145.3

The District’s Title IX Coordinator: William Avila, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services, Title IX and Equity Compliance Officer, 16703 S. Clark Avenue, Bellflower, CA 90706, williamavila@busd.k12.ca.us, (562) 866-9011 ext. 2017

Students Rights

The resources below provide additional information on student rights.

Student Rights Pursuant to Education Code 221.8

California Department of Education’s Office for Equal Opportunity

United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights

United States Department of Education Office of Civil Rights Complaint Form

BP5145.7

Contact Information: 1-800-421-3481 or ocr@ed.gov

School’s Responsibilities

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits discrimination based on sex in programs and activities of federally funded institutions. School district programs and activities must be operated free from discrimination. Key areas addressed by Title IX include: athletics; sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and sexual violence; pregnant and parenting students; off-campus activities; recruitment and admission; and employment. Schools must protect against discrimination in these areas. Schools must also prohibit retaliation against any person for opposing an unlawful practice or policy, or filing, testifying about, or participating in any complaint under Title IX.

For more information about schools’ responsibilities under Title IX, please visit:

The California Office of Equal Opportunity

The United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights

How to File a Title IX Complaint

Individuals who believe they have been discriminated against in violation of Title IX may file a complaint with the District or the Office for Civil Rights (OCR). If a crime is involved, such as sexual assault, individuals may also file a report with the local police department. A person may pursue one or all of these avenues at the same time. Below is a summary of each process.

Uniform Complaint Procedure, Williams, Title IX

A uniform complaint may be filed regarding the violation of specific federal and state programs that use categorical funds such as Adult Education, After School Education and Safety, Agricultural Vocational Education, American Indian Education Centers, American Indian Early Childhood Education, Career Technical Education, Child Care and Development, Consolidated Categorical Aid, Foster Youth Services, Local Control Funding Formula and Local Control Accountability Plans, Migrant Education, Nutrition Services, Regional Occupational Centers, School Facilities, Special Education, Tobacco-Use Prevention Education, and Unlawful Pupil Fees are considered UCP complaints.

A Williams Complaint, another type of UCP 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. Schools have complaint forms available for these types of complaints, but will not reject a complaint if the form is not used as long as the complaint is submitted in writing.

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.”

Complaints pertaining to Title IX shall be filed in accordance with our Uniform Complaint Procedures. Review the documents below to understand more about our procedures.

Uniform Complaint Procedures

Williams Complaint Form

Time Requirement

A complaint with the District must be filed within six months of the discrimination occurring or your awareness of the discrimination (5 CCR 4630(b)).
If you have any questions about this time limit, or if you believe your complaint may be outside this time requirement but want to explore other options, please contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Investigation Procedure

Upon receipt of any complaint related to a potential Title IX violation, the District will ensure every allegation is investigated promptly, adequately and impartially. The District will also take steps to protect complainants from retaliation and ensure all parties are treated fairly throughout the District’s investigation process. As part of its Title IX obligations, the District also takes steps to prevent recurrence of any sexual violence and remedy discriminatory effects on the complainant and others, as appropriate. The District’s procedure for investigating a Title IX complaint can be found at Board Policy 1321.

Please contact the Title IX Coordinator if you have any questions.

OCR Complaint

Click here for information regarding filing a complaint with OCR.

OCR provides an online complaint filing system.

OCR can also be contacted through 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
Email: ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov

Time Requirement

OCR requires complaints to be filed within 180 calendar days of the alleged discrimination. Please contact OCR, or visit the websites above, if you have any questions about this time requirement.