NCLB Complaint Procedures

Standard Complaint Resolution Procedure for No Child Left Behind Act Programs

This complaint resolution procedure applies to all programs administered by the

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB).

A complaint is a formal allegation that a specific federal or state law or regulation has been violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted by school district personnel or by Department of Education personnel.

Any parent or guardian, surrogate parent, teacher, administrator, school board member, or other person directly involved with an activity, program, or project operated under the general supervision of the Department may file a complaint. Such a complaint must be in writing and signed; it will provide specific details of the situation and indicate the law or regulation that is allegedly being violated, misapplied, or misinterpreted. The written, signed complaint must be filed and the resolution pursued in accordance with local district policy  number 1480, Public Complaints

PUBLIC COMPLAINTS

The following steps are to be followed by parents/guardians or the public when questions or complaints arise regarding the operation of the school district or federal programs administered by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that cannot be addressed through other established procedures.

1. Complaints on behalf of individual students should first be addressed to the teacher or employee involved.
2. Unsettled matters from (1) above or problems and questions concerning individual schools should be presented in writing to the principal of the school. The principal will provide a written response to the individual raising the concern within five (5) business days of receiving the complaint or concern.
3. Unsettled matters from (2) above or problems and questions concerning the school district should be presented in writing to the superintendent. The superintendent will provide a written response to the individual voicing the concern within five (5) business days of receiving the complaint or concern.
4. If the matter cannot be settled satisfactorily by the superintendent, it may be brought to the Board of Education. Written comments submitted to the superintendent or the secretary of the Board will be brought to the attention of the entire Board. The Board will address each concern or complaint in an appropriate and timely manner.

The decision of the Board shall be final except in the case of complaints concerning the administration of federal programs. In that case the complainant may go to the appropriate section of DESE and from there on to the United States Secretary of Education. The Board considers it the obligation of the professional and support staff of the district to field the questions of parents/guardians or the public. Accordingly, the district will inform patrons of this complaint procedure and its availability

Complaints regarding district compliance with nondiscrimination laws will be processed according to Board policy. Employee grievances will be processed in accordance with the established employee grievance procedure or as otherwise required by law. All other grievances for which there is a specific policy or procedure will be addressed pursuant to that policy or procedure.

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