State Laws to Ensure Safe and Inclusive School Environments
Students and staff are entitled to attend safe, secure, and peaceful campuses.
Santa Clara Unified School District acknowledges California Constitution Art. 1, § 28 (f)(1) Right to Safe Schools. All students and staff of public primary, elementary, junior high, and senior high schools, and community colleges, colleges, and universities have the inalienable right to attend campuses that are safe, secure, and peaceful.
All people have equal rights and opportunities in California public schools.
Santa Clara Unified School District affirms California Education Code § 200. It is the policy of the State of California to afford all persons in public schools, regardless of their disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, equal rights, and opportunities in the educational institutions of the state.
No person should be subjected to discrimination for any reason.
Santa Clara Unified School District recognizes California Education Code §220; Title 5. No person shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic that is contained in the definition of hate crimes set forth in Section 422.55 of the Penal Code, including immigration status, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance, or enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid.
Schools are encouraged to develop policies and curriculum that promote appreciation of diversity and discourage discriminatory attitudes.
Santa Clara Unified School District supports California Code of Regulations, § 4900(a). (Schools can seek assistance from the State Board of Education in developing these programs because it is responsible for developing policies, curriculum guidelines, teacher and administrator training programs, grants, etc., to promote appreciation of diversity, discourage discriminatory attitudes, and prevent and respond to acts of hate violence in schools. California Education Code §§ 201(f), 233 & 233.8.)
School districts make decisions about their curriculum based on state guidelines and laws.
Santa Clara Unified School District acknowledges the California Healthy Youth Act California Education Code AB 329 Sections 51930‐51939: School districts under the leadership of their locally elected boards and superintendents are tasked with selecting which curriculum and instructional resources (including textbooks and worksheets) they will use to teach this material to students. Every school district has the autonomy to choose its own curriculum as long as it meets the state guidelines and follows local board policy for selection.
Families have both rights and limitations when it comes to what is taught in Santa Clara Unified classrooms.
Santa Clara Unified School District recognizes that California Education Code § 51101, details parental rights, Santa Clara Unified School district. FAQs from Santa Clara County Office of Education
The contributions of people with disabilities, members of LGBTQ+ community, and a variety of ethnic and cultural groups are to be included in the curriculum.
Santa Clara Unified School District endorses the FAIR Education Act of 2011, SB 48: Pupil instruction: prohibition of discriminatory content, was signed into law on July 14, 2011, and went into effect on January 1, 2012. It amends the California Education Code to include the Fair, Accurate, Inclusive and Respectful (FAIR) reference to contributions by people with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ community in history and social studies curriculum; apart from the already included Native Americans, African Americans, Mexican Americans, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, European Americans, and members of other ethnic and cultural groups.
Families may not opt out of curriculum that refers to gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, discrimination, bullying, relationships, or family.
Santa Clara Unified School District recognizes California Education Code 51932(b): The opt-out provision of the California Healthy Youth Act does not apply to instruction or materials outside the context of comprehensive sexual health education, including those that may reference gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, discrimination, bullying, relationships, or family. For example, the opt-out rule associated with comprehensive sexual health education would not apply to a social studies lesson on the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. Read more about the FAIR Education Act of 2011.