Non-Discrimination / Harassment Policy (Title IX)

The Hughson Unified School District Board of Education desires to provide a safe school environment that allows all students equal access and opportunities in the district's academic and other educational support programs, services, and activities. The Board prohibits, at any district school or school activity, unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student based on the student's actual or perceived race, color, ancestry, national origin, nationality, ethnicity, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics (see BP/AR 5145.3 below for complete policy language).
Any student who feels that he/she has been subjected to unlawful discrimination described above or in district policy is strongly encouraged to immediately contact the compliance officer, principal, or any other staff member. In addition, any student who observes any such incident is strongly encouraged to report the incident to the compliance officer or principal, whether or not the alleged victim files a complaint  (see BP/AR 5145.3 below for complete policy language).
Prohibited Conduct

Prohibited sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome sexual advances, unwanted requests for sexual favors, or other unwanted verbal, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature made against another person of the same or opposite sex in the educational setting, under any of the following conditions:  (Education Code 212.5; 5 CCR 4916)

1.         Submission to the conduct is explicitly or implicitly made a term or condition of a student's academic status or progress.

2.         Submission to or rejection of the conduct by a student is used as the basis for academic decisions affecting the student.

3.         The conduct has the purpose or effect of having a negative impact on the student's academic performance or of creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment.

4.         Submission to or rejection of the conduct by the student is used as the basis for any decision affecting the student regarding benefits and services, honors, programs, or activities available at or through any district program or activity.

Examples of types of conduct which are prohibited in the district and which may constitute sexual harassment include, but are not limited to:

1.         Unwelcome leering, sexual flirtations, or propositions

2.         Unwelcome sexual slurs, epithets, threats, verbal abuse, derogatory comments, or sexually degrading descriptions

3.         Graphic verbal comments about an individual's body or overly personal conversation

4.         Sexual jokes, derogatory posters, notes, stories, cartoons, drawings, pictures, obscene gestures, or computer-generated images of a sexual nature

5.         Spreading sexual rumors

6.         Teasing or sexual remarks about students enrolled in a predominantly single-sex class

7.         Massaging, grabbing, fondling, stroking, or brushing the body

8.         Touching an individual's body or clothes in a sexual way

9.         Impeding or blocking movements or any physical interference with school activities when directed at an individual on the basis of sex

10.       Displaying sexually suggestive objects

11.       Sexual assault, sexual battery, or sexual coercion

12.       Electronic communications containing comments, words, or images described above

Any prohibited conduct that occurs off campus or outside of school-related or school-sponsored programs or activities will be regarded as sexual harassment in violation of district policy if it has a continuing effect on or creates a hostile school environment for the complainant or victim of the conduct.

The following staff member has been designated as the district's Title IX Coordinator and handles inquiries regarding issues related to HUSD non-discrimination policies: Carrie Duckart, Assistant Superintendent Hughson Unified School District
7448 Fox Road / PO Box 189
Hughson, CA 95326

Phone: 209-883-4428, Ext. 1
Additional information:
District Complaint Process
California Department of Education (CDE) - Gender Equity/Title IX
Office for Equal Opportunity
U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights
Office of Civil Rights - Filing a Civil Rights complaint
Office for Civil Rights Headquarters
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20201
Toll Free Call Center: 1-800-368-1019
TTD Number: 1-800-537-7697