Business and Noninstructional Operations
Board Policy No. 3555
Policy Adopted: November 4, 2010
NUTRITION PROGRAM COMPLIANCE
The Governing Board recognizes the district’s responsibility to comply with state and federal nondiscrimination laws as they apply to the district’s nutrition programs. The district shall not deny any individual the benefits or service of any nutrition program or discriminate against him/her because of his/her race, color, national origin, gender, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or any other basis prohibited by law, in its implementation of such a program.
(cf. 3550 - Food Service/Child Nutrition Program)
(cf. 3552 - Summer Meal Program)
(cf. 3553 - Free and Reduced Price Meals)
(cf. 5030 - Student Wellness)
Coordinator
The Board designates the compliance officer specified in AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures as coordinator of the district’s efforts to comply with the laws governing its nutrition programs and to investigate any related complaints. Any complaint concerning the district’s nutrition programs shall be investigated using the process identified in the section entitled “Procedures” in the district’s AR 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures.
(cf. 1312.3 - Uniform Complaint Procedures)
The coordinator shall provide training on the laws, regulations, procedures, and directives related to the district’s nutrition programs to district employees involved in administering them. The coordinator also shall develop procedures and systems that do not restrict the participation of individuals in the district’s nutrition programs, based on their race, ethnicity, or disability, and that prevent district employees from incorrectly denying the applications for participation submitted by such individuals.
The coordinator shall develop and maintain a system for collecting racial and ethnic data of participants in the district’s nutrition programs and shall, at least annually, report to the Board on whether the district’s nutrition programs are effectively reaching eligible individuals and whether and where additional outreach may be needed.
(cf. 5125 - Student Records)
When a significant number of participants or potential participants in the district’s nutrition programs are only non-English speakers, the coordinator shall make an appropriate language translation available.
(cf. 5020 - Parent Rights and Responsibilities)
(cf. 6020 - Parent Involvement)
(cf. 6174 - English Language Learners)
The coordinator also shall ensure that the district’s nutrition programs accommodate the special dietary needs of any individual with a disability who has on file a medical statement that restricts his/her diet because of his/her disability.
(cf. 6159 - Individualized Education Program)
Notifications
The coordinator shall ensure that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s “And Justice for All” or other approved Nutrition Programs Civil Rights posters are displayed in areas visible to the district’s nutrition program participants, such as food service areas and school offices.
Annually, the coordinator shall notify all students, parents/guardians, and employees of program requirements and the procedures for filing a complaint, through the district’s usual means of notification.
In addition, the coordinator shall ensure that every informational release, publication, or poster concerning the district’s nutrition programs and/or activities includes, in a prominent location, the following statement:
“In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, political beliefs, or disability. In addition, California law prohibits discrimination on any basis identified in Government Code 12940.
To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.”
However, if the document is no more than one page and there is no room to print the full nondiscrimination statement, the district may instead use the statement “This institution is an equal opportunity provider” in the same print size as the rest of the text.
When a complaint is unresolved at the district level, the coordinator shall notify the complainant of the option to contact and/or forward his/her complaint to one of the following agencies:
- Child Nutrition Program Civil Rights and Program Complaint Coordinator, California Department of Education, Nutrition Services Division, 1430 N Street, Room 1500, Sacramento, CA 95814-2342 or call 916-445-0850 or 800-952-5609
- Office of Civil Rights, USDA, Western Region, 90 Seventh Street, Suite 10-100, San Francisco, CA 94103 or call 415-705-1336 or fax 415-705-1364 or email [email protected]
- USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call 800-795-3272 or 202-720-6382 (TYY)
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
200-262.4 Prohibition of discrimination
48985 Notices to parents in language other than English
49060-49079 Student records
49490-49590 Child nutrition programs
PENAL CODE
422.55 Definition of hate crime
422.6 Interference with constitutional right or privilege
CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5
3080 Application of section
4600-4687 Uniform complaint procedures
4900-4965 Nondiscrimination in elementary and secondary education programs
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
1400-1482 Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act
1681-1688 Discrimination based on sex or blindness, Title IX
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 29
794 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 42
2000d-2000d-7 Title VI, Civil Rights Act of 1964
2000e-2000e-17 Title VII, Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended
2000h-2000h-6 Title IX
12101-12213 Americans with Disabilities Act
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 28
35.101-35.190 Americans with Disabilities Act
36.303 Auxiliary aids and services
CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34
100.1-100.13 Nondiscrimination in federal programs, effectuating Title VI
104.1-104.39 Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
106.1-106.61 Discrimination on the basis of sex, effectuating Title IX, especially:
106.9 Dissemination of policy