There are 1,037 school districts in California and 10,588 public schools. During the 2019-2020 school year, there were 6,163,001 students enrolled in K-12. Approximately 59% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. There is a policy that addresses school climate with surveys. California state policies include measures that address bullying prevention, school safety plans, reducing discrimination, alternatives to expulsion, mental health services, increasing parent involvement, and media literacy. California has several policies addressing dating violence, sexual harassment education, and healthy relationship education. There are a few policies that address LGBTQ students specifically as well.
Safety
California Education Code 52060. Adoption of local control and accountability plan; Term; Contents; State priorities.
School climate, as measured by all of the following, as applicable: (A) Pupil suspension rates. (B) Pupil expulsion rates. (C) Other local measures include surveys of pupils, parents, and teachers on the sense of safety and school connectedness.
Who does this protect? Staff, Students, Community, parents and minorities
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
California Education Code 48900 Suspension or Expulsion.
- States the definitions of bullying, cybersexual bullying, electronic act, and hazing.
- Provides behaviors for these terms, which may lead to suspension or expulsion depending on what the superintendent of the school district or principal of the school decides. Suspension or expulsion could be a consequence of engaging in bullying.
- Any off-campus action when it comes to cyberbullying is also included in the policy.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=48900.&lawCode=EDC
California Education Code 234.1 Safe Place to Learn Act.
A policy to ensure that all educational agencies continue to work to reduce discrimination, harassment, violence, intimidation, and bullying.
- Adopted a policy that prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics (race, gender, immigration status, religious beliefs, sexual orientation disabilities), and a policy for receiving and investigating such acts.
- If an act of harassment, bullying, intimidation and discrimination takes place school personnel must act and a timeline to investigate the incident is required.
- Resources available to support LGBTQ and other at-risk students
- policy posted in all schools and offices (i.e. teachers’ lounge and student meeting rooms)
https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/laws/california
Who does this protect? Students that are on campus
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
California Education Code 32281 School Safety Plans.
School districts and the county office of education are responsible for developing a comprehensive school safety plan.
California Education Code 32282 School Safety Plans.
Should include;
- Status of crime committed on campus and at school-related functions.
- Identifying strategies and programs that will help school safety status.
- Disaster procedures, routine, and emergency (i.e. what to do during an earthquake, allowing access to a public agency like Red Cross)
- Procedures for conducting tactical responses to criminal incidents (i.e. school shootings.
California Education Code 48900 Suspension or Expulsion.
Students shall not possess, sell or supply firearms, knives, explosives, or other dangerous objects unless they have written permission for having such objects, like from the school principal.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=48900.&lawCode=EDC
California Education Code 38001.5.
Every school security officer must complete a training course. They are hired as a watch person, security guard, or patrol person to protect people and school property. They can possess weapons in school.
https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/education-code/edc-sect-38001-5.html
Who does this protect? Students, Staff
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Teaching/Learning
California Education Code 48900.5 Suspension or Expulsion.
Alternatives to means of correction should be considered by the superintendent of the school district or the school before suspension or expulsion. Research-based frameworks with strategies that improve behavioral and academic outcomes that are age appropriate and designed to address and correct the pupil’s behavior should be considered and implemented first.
California Education Code 56000 Special Education Programs.
All individuals with expectational needs have a right to participate in free appropriate public education and special education instruction and services for these persons are needed to ensure the right to an appropriate educational opportunity to meet their unique needs.
California Education Code 48916 Suspension or Expulsion.
Governing board of the school recommends a rehabilitation plan for a student at the time of the expulsion order which may include recommendations for improved academic performance, tutoring, special education assessments, job training, etc. https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=48916.
California Education Code 58500. Establishment and maintenance; Definition.
The governing board of the school district can establish and maintain one or more alternative schools. Alternative schools are separate entities within the school designed to;
- Maximize the opportunity for students to develop positive values such as self-reliance, initiative, kindness, etc.
- Recognize that the best learning takes place when the student learns because of his desire to learn.
- Learning environment that maximizes student self-motivation and encouragement.
- Maximize the opportunity for parents, teachers, and students to cooperatively develop the learning process and its subject matter.
- Maximize the opportunity for students, teachers, and parents to continuously react to the changing world.
Who does this protect? Students
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Interpersonal Relationships
California Education Code 234.1 Safe Place to Learn Act.
A policy to ensure that all educational agencies continue to work to reduce discrimination, harassment, violence, intimidation, and bullying.
5 California Code of Regulations 80632.1. Generic Program of Instruction in Basic Pupil Personnel Services for all Specializations.
Personnel will receive programs that increase their knowledge on the effects of cultural, racial, lifestyle, and sex stereotyping; as well as culturally appropriate communication styles and counseling techniques.
California Education Code 44238. Study of availability and effectiveness of cultural competency training for teachers and administrators; Contract with independent evaluator; Report to Legislature
California Education Code 44261.2 Credential Types.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=44261.2.
California Education Code 52176 Bilingual-Bicultural Education Act of 1976.
Each school district with more than 50 pupils of limited English proficiency shall establish a districtwide advisory committee on bilingual education. Parents or guardians, or both, of pupils of limited English proficiency who are not employed by the district, shall constitute a majority of the committee.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=52176.
Who does this protect? Students, Parents
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Institutional Environment
California Education Code 52060. Adoption of local control and accountability plan; Term; Contents; State priorities.
For the school districts, local control and accountability plan family engagement, and parental involvement are a priority. This includes efforts to include input from parents when making decisions for the school district and each school site. Family engagement may include the application of research-based practices like welcoming families into the school community, treating families as partners, engaging in effective two-way communication, etc.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=52060.&lawCode=EDC
California Education Code 11503 Programs to Encourage Parental Involvement.
The governing board of each school district and county office of education shall establish a written parent and family engagement program for each school in the district containing;
- Procedures to ensure that parents and family members are consulted and participate in the planning, design, implementation, and evaluation of the program.
- Procedures to train teachers, school administrators, and other staff on outreach and effective communication with parents and family members as equal partners.
- Regular and periodic programs throughout the school year that provide training, instruction, and information.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=EDC§ionNum=11503.
California Education Code 11502. Legislative purpose and goal.
- Engage parents and family members positively in their children’s education by helping and training on topics such as state academic Standard and assessments to develop knowledge and skills to use at home to support their children’s academic efforts at school and their children’s development as responsible future members of our society.
- To inform parents that they can directly affect the success of their children’s learning, by providing parents with techniques and strategies that they may utilize to improve their children’s academic success and to assist their children in learning at home.
Who does this protect? Students, Parents, Staff
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
California Education Code 32282 School Safety Plans.
Should include;
- Status of crime committed on campus and at school-related functions
- Identifying strategies and programs that will help school safety status
- Disaster procedures, routine, and emergency (i.e. what to do during an earthquake, allowing access to a public agency like Red Cross)
- Procedures for conducting tactical responses to criminal incidents (i.e. school shootings
California Education Code 48900 Suspension or Expulsion.
Students shall not possess, sell or supply firearms, knives, explosives, or other dangerous objects unless they have written permission for having such objects, like from the school principal.
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?sectionNum=48900.&lawCode=EDC
California Education Code 38001.5.
Every school security officer must complete a training course. They are hired as a watch person, security guard, or patrol person to protect people and school property. They can possess weapons in school.
https://codes.findlaw.com/ca/education-code/edc-sect-38001-5.html
Who does this protect? Students and Staff in school
Does this policy include ways for families to be involved? Yes
Social Media
There is currently no policy surrounding Leadership in Alabama. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School
There is currently no policy surrounding Professional relationships in Alabama. For more information on school climate, please visit us at Services – National School