Report 2019-125 Recommendation 8 Responses
Report 2019-125: Youth Suicide Prevention: Local Educational Agencies Lack the Resources and Policies Necessary to Effectively Address Rising Rates of Youth Suicide and Self‑Harm (Release Date: September 2020)
Recommendation #8 To: Gateway Public Schools
To ensure that their teachers and staff have the information necessary to respond consistently, promptly, and appropriately to reduce suicide risk, the six LEAs we reviewed should revise their policies by March 2021 to comply with state law and incorporate the best practices in Education's model policy.
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From October 2023
Based on the feedback we received from the audit as well as reviewing the sample best practices to ensure our policies is reflected of all of those updates. The policy was last reviewed and updated in October 2021 and has been shared with staff for the 2023-24 school year.
- Completion Date: October 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
Gateway did not demonstrate that it revised its suicide prevention policy in consultation with community stakeholders, as required by state law. Although Gateway revised its suicide prevention policies to address the needs of at-risk groups, such as LGBTQ youth and youth in foster care it should, at a minimum, provide its suicide prevention policy to the community stakeholders described in law and consider incorporating any feedback they provide.
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
Annual Follow-Up Agency Response From November 2022
Based on the feedback we received from the audit as well as reviewing the sample best practices to ensure our policies is reflected of all of those updates. The policy was last reviewed and updated in October 2021 and has been shared with staff for the 2022-23 school year.
- Completion Date: October 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of Annual Follow-Up Status: Partially Implemented
Gateway Public Schools' (Gateway Charter) revision of its suicide prevention policy did not meet all of the requirements specified in state law. The policy now includes language addressing the needs of at-risk groups, such as LGBTQ youth and youth in foster care. However, state law also requires that local educational agencies consult with school and community stakeholders, school-employed mental health professionals, and suicide prevention experts when adopting these policies. Gateway Charter did not provide any evidence that it met with these stakeholders when it adopted its policy.
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
1-Year Agency Response
The policy has been updated to incorporate best practices based on recommendations from the audit.
- Completion Date: August 2020
- Response Date: October 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Partially Implemented
Although Gateway revised its suicide prevention policies to address the needs of at-risk groups, such as LGBTQ youth and youth in foster care, it did not demonstrate that it revised its suicide prevention policy in consultation with community stakeholders.
- Auditee did not substantiate its claim of full implementation
- Auditee did not address all aspects of the recommendation
6-Month Agency Response
Gateway Public Schools did not submit a response to this recommendation
- Completion Date: August 2021
- Response Date: August 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: No Action Taken
60-Day Agency Response
Gateway Public Schools did not submit a response to this recommendation
- Estimated Completion Date: unkown
- Response Date: August 2021
California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: No Action Taken
All Recommendations in 2019-125
Agency responses received are posted verbatim.