What is a Uniform Complaints Procedures or UCP complaint?
A Uniform Complaint Procedures or UCP complaint is a written statement alleging discrimination, harassment, or a violation of a federal or state law or regulation. A UCP complaint must be filed by way of the Uniform Complaint Procedures as written in the California Code of Regulations, Title 5, sections 4600-4687. Issues that may involve filing a complaint using the UCP are under various state and federal programs that use categorical funds such as Adult Education, Career Technical And Technical Education And Training Programs, Child Care And Developmental Programs, Child Nutrition Programs, Consolidated Categorical Aid Programs, Federal Safety Planning Requirements, Migrant Education, and Special Education Programs.
A Williams Complaint, another type of UCP complaint, regards instructional materials, emergency or urgent facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of pupils, and teacher vacancy or misassignment and may be filed anonymously. Local educational agencies (LEAs) shall have a complaint form available for these types of complaints, but will not reject a complaint if the form is not used as long as the complaint is submitted in writing.
A Valenzuela complaint (Assembly Bill 347) is a type of Williams Complaint and requires LEAs that receive intensive instruction funds to post a notice in Grades 10 to 12 classrooms and provide an area on the Williams Complaint form for alleging a lack of opportunity to receive intensive instruction and services for pupils who have not passed one or both parts of the high school exit exam by the end of 12th grade. This requirement is subject to SBX3 4 (Ch. 12, Third Extraordinary Session, Statutes of 2009), ABX4 2 (Ch. 2, Fourth Extraordinary Session, Statutes of 2009), Education Code Section 42605, and/or existing contract or bargaining agreements that the LEA may have in place.
Not all complaints fall under the scope of the UCP. Many concerns are the responsibilities of the LEAs, including, hiring and evaluation of staff, classroom assignments, student advancement and retention, selection/provision of textbooks and materials, student discipline, provision of core curricula subjects, facilities, graduation requirements, homework policies and practices, use of general education funds and dress codes and school uniforms.
The following documents describe the process in filing a complaint. Topics include referring complaint issues, LEA responsibilities, LEA policies and procedures, filing a local complaint, time lines, appealing LEA Decisions, department resolution procedures, the on-site investigation process, and the investigation and final report procedures of the California Department of Education (CDE).
Available UCP Information and Samples
Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) brochure (Dated 26-Jan-2009; PDF; 91KB; 2pp.)
Authorized by California Code of Regulations , Title
5, sections 4600-4687
Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) brochure text (Dated 14-Nov-2008; DOC; 49.5KB; 4pp.)
Authorized by California Code of Regulations , Title 5, sections 4600-4687
Available Translations of the Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP) brochure text
The UCP brochure describes the process in filing an official UCP complaint under the Uniform Complaint Procedures process and provides the contacts at the California Department of Education (CDE) as authorized by California Code of Regulations, Title 5, sections 4600 through 4687. This is a document for CDE use and is not meant to be used by LEAs in place of their own UCP Annual Notice.
Samples
Sample UCP Annual Notice (Dated 15-Dec-2010; DOC; 46 KB; 2pp.)
The Sample UCP Annual Notice is required for all LEAs to annually notify in writing its students, employees, parents or guardians of its students, the district advisory committee, school advisory committees, appropriate private school officials or representatives, and other interested parties of their own UCP complaint procedures.
(Translations of the Sample UCP Annual Notice are not available at this time-keep checking back on this website.)
Sample Notice to Parents and Guardians - Complaint Rights (Dated 10-Nov-2008; DOC; 30KB; 1p.)
Sample Notice to Parents and Guardians - Complaint Rights (Spanish) (Dated 28-Sep-2007; DOC; 32KB; 2pp.)
Other Available Translations of the Sample Notice to Parents and Guardians – Complaint Rights
The Sample Notice to Parents and Guardians – Complaint Rights is the Williams Complaints Classroom Notice. This notice is required by all LEAs to post in each classroom in each school notifying all parents/guardians, pupils and teachers of their rights to complain about possible insufficient instructional material, unclean and/or unsafe school facilities, and/or teacher vacancies and/or misassignments.
Sample Uniform Complaint Procedure Form (Dated 26-Aug-2009; DOC; 32KB; 1p.)
Sample Uniform Complaint Procedure Form (Spanish) (Dated 28-Sep-2007; DOC; 31KB; 2pp.)
Other Available Translations of the Sample Uniform Complaint Procedure Form
The Sample Uniform Complaint Procedure Form is for Williams Complaints issues and is used by LEAs for anyone who wants to file a complaint concerning deficiencies related to instructional materials, conditions of facilities that are not maintained in a clean or safe manner or in good repair, and teacher vacancy or misassignment. This form contains elements required by Education Code Section 35186 and 5CCR 4600-4687.
Sample Uniform Complaints Notice for Classrooms at Schools Grades 10 to 12 for School Districts Who Receive Intensive Instructions Funds (Dated 30-Jan-2009)
Available Translations of the Sample Uniform Complaints Notice for Classrooms at Schools with Grades 10 to 12 for School Districts Who Receive Intensive Instructional Funds
Sample Uniform Complaints Notice for Classrooms at Schools Grades 10 to 12 for School Districts Who Receive Intensive Instructions Funds is the Williams Complaints Classroom Notice for High Schools. This notice is required by all LEAs to post in each clsassroom in each high school notifying all parents/guardians, pupils and teachers of their rights to complain about posible insufficient instructional material, unclean and/or unsafe school facilities, teacher vacancies and/or misassignments, AND intensive instruction and services not being provided to pupils who have not passed one or both parts of the high school exit examination at the end of grade 12. This requirement is subject to SBX3 4 (Ch. 12, Third Extraordinary Session, Statutes of 2009), ABX4 2 (Ch. 2, Fourth Extraordinary Session, Statutes of 2009), Education Code Section 42605, and/or existing contract or bargaining agreements that the district may have in place.
Sample Uniform Complaint Procedure Form: High School Version (Dated 26-Aug-2009; DOC, 36KB; 1p.)
Available Translations of the Sample Uniform Complaint Procedure Form: High School Version
The Sample Uniform Complaint Procedure Form: High School Version is for high schools who receive intensive instruction funds. This form is required by all LEAs to make available for anyone who wants to file a Williams Complaint issue about possible insufficient instructional material, unclean and/or unsafe school facilities, teacher vacancies and/or misassignments, AND intensive instruction and services not being provided to pupils who have not passed one or both parts of the high school exit examination at the end of grade 12. This requirement is subject to SBX3 4 (Ch. 12, Third Extraordinary Session, Statutes of 2009), ABX4 2 (Ch. 2, Fourth Extraordinary Session, Statutes of 2009), Education Code Section 42605, and/or existing contract or bargaining agreements that the district may have in place. This form also contains elements required by Education Code Section 35186 and 5CCR 4600-4687.
