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Sexual Harassment

What is Sexual Harassment?

Prohibited sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature.  Violation of the CA Ed Code, Section 212.5 and 48900.2, as well as federal law.  Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to:

  • Unwelcome leering, sexual flirtations, or propositions.
  • Unwelcome sexual slurs, epithets, threats, verbal abuse, derogatory comments, or sexually degrading descriptions.
  • Graphic verbal comments about an individual's body or overly personal conversation.
  • Sexual jokes, notes, stories, drawings, pictures, or gestures.
  • Spreading sexual rumors.
  • Teasing or sexual remarks about students enrolled in a predominantly single-sex class.
  • Touching an individual's body or clothes in a sexual way.
  • Purposefully cornering or blocking normal movements or limiting a student's access to educational tools.
  • Displaying sexually suggestive objects.
  • Any act of retaliation against an individual who reports a violation of the district's harassment policy, or who participates in the investigation of a sexual harassment complaint.

What Actions can You Take?

  • Tell the harasser their words and/or actions are offensive and to STOP.
  • Contact and report incident to staff IMMEDIATELY.
  • Avoid being alone with harasser.
  • Record the incident in writing - what, where, when it happened, save any notes or pictures you receive from the harasser.
  • Ask any witnesses to write down what they heard/saw without any help from you or anyone else.

Sexual harassment complaints by and against students and staff shall be investigated and resolved in accordance with laws and district procedures specified in the Board Policy 5145.7 and Board Policy 4119.11. Upon investigation of a sexual harassment complaint, any student or staff member found to have engaged in sexual harassment or sexual violence in violation of these policies shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Ways to Report Sexual Harassment

  • Tell a staff member at the school (teacher, counselor, assistant principal, or principal).

  • Fill out a sexual harassment/misconduct form online.

  • For anonymous community reporting, call WeTip at 1- (800) 782-7463.

  • If you have been sexually assaulted, go to a safe place and call 911.

Resources