Report 2012-108 Recommendation 14 Responses

Report 2012-108: School Safety and Nondiscrimination Laws: Most Local Educational Agencies Do Not Evaluate the Effectiveness of Their Programs, and the State Should Exercise Stronger Leadership (Release Date: August 2013)

Recommendation #14 To: Sacramento City Unified School District

To ensure that it is effectively preventing and addressing incidents of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying in its schools, Sacramento City Unified should resolve complaints within 60 calendar days regardless of the complaint process selected.

1-Year Agency Response

The District has modified its general complaint acknowledgement letter to reflect the 60-day resolution guideline. The District has also modified its complaint log database to include target dates within the 60-day investigation period to contact or check in with the designated investigator of the case.

These periodic check-in's are avenues to determine current status of complaint investigations and provides an opportunity to offer assistance to the investigator to ensure compliance established deadlines as needed.

Additionally, the Uniform Complaint Procedure Extension form has been updated to include an extended deadline date to complete the investigation.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

Sacramento City Unified provided a copy of a recent complaint log which showed the calculated target dates (30-day, 45-day, and deadline) on which its staff would follow up with the assigned investigator to ensure timely resolution.

In addition, a previous version of SCUSD's complaint extension form did not specify the length of the extension that was being requested. As a result, it was not apparent that the previous version of this form would ensure the timely resolution of complaints. SCUSD has since revised the extension form to indicate the date on which the extension would end. Accordingly, SCUSD has improved its process to ensure a more timely and transparent resolution of its complaints.

6-Month Agency Response

The district failed to update its response in the recommendations database.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken

Despite our requests, Sacramento City Unified failed to update its response in the recommendations database.

60-Day Agency Response

The District has modified its general complaint acknowledgement letter to reflect the 60-day complaint resolution guideline.

NOTE: Please see sample letter submitted with item 12.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Partially Implemented

The district has updated its acknowledgement letter template to include the following language:

"If you do not receive a response within 60 days from «Date__Received», the Human Resource Services office will be contacting you directly to advise if an extension is needed. If you agree with the need to extend beyond the 60 days, please complete the attached complaint extension form and submit to our office."

However, the district has not provided documentation that would demonstrate its timely resolution of the complaints it has received.

All Recommendations in 2012-108

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.