AB 34 — A Safe Place To Learn
Albany Unified promotes a safe and supportive environment for all students and staff and abhors bullying of any kind. AUSD is dedicated to acting against bullying and is in support of AB 34, the Safe Place To Learn Act.
Assembly Bill No. 34
CHAPTER 282The Safe Place to Learn Act requires the State Department of Education to assess whether local educational agencies have taken certain actions related to educational equity, including adopting a policy that prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on specified characteristics, such as disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of the specified characteristics. At the beginning of the first semester or quarter of the regular school term, existing law requires the governing board of a school district to notify the parent or guardian of a minor pupil regarding the right or responsibility of the parent or guardian under specified provisions. Existing law requires that notice to include, among other things, a copy of the school district’s written sexual harassment policy, as it relates to pupils.
This bill would, commencing with the 2020–21 academic year, require each local educational agency, as defined, to ensure that specified information on bullying and harassment prevention is readily accessible in a prominent location on the local educational agency’s existing internet website in a manner that is easily accessible to parents or guardians and pupils. The bill would require local educational agencies to include specified State Department of Education policies and the policies adopted by a local educational agency relating to hate violence, bullying, harassment, discrimination, and suicide prevention and resources relating to these topics. The bill would, contingent upon the enactment of AB 1767 of the 2019–20 Regular Session, also require each local educational agency to ensure that the local educational agency’s policy on pupil suicide prevention in kindergarten and grades 1 to 6, inclusive, is readily accessible on the local educational agency’s existing internet website, as specified above. By requiring school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to ensure specified information on bullying and harassment prevention is readily accessible in a prominent location on the local educational agency’s existing internet website, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The Definition of Discrimination and Harassment Based on Sex
Education Code Section 230 prohibits discrimination and harassment based on sex in the denial of benefits of any academic, extracurricular, research, occupational training, or other program or activity.
Title IX Information (Click here to access more information)
In development...links to AUSD policies
Albany Unified School District Policy on Pupil Suicide Prevention in Grades K-6
Other Important Links
- Bullying and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Needs
This site addresses creating a safe environment for youth with disabilities and federal civil rights laws. - Bullying at School (PDF)
This CDE publication addresses bullying behavior and hate-motivated behavior, including definitions, effects, and prevention strategies. - Cyberbullying - Definition, Prevention, and Reporting
Cyberbullying happens when children bully each other through electronic technology. Find out why cyberbullying is different from traditional bullying, what you can do to prevent it, and how you can report it when it happens. - Cyberbullying Research Center
The Cyberbullying Research Center is a clearinghouse of information about cyberbullying among adolescents. It provides information on the nature, extent, causes, and consequences of cyberbullying, as well as resources on how to prevent and respond to online aggression. - GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network)
This network provides resources and support for schools to implement effective and age-appropriate anti-bullying programs to improve school climate for all students. - Massachusetts Bullying Prevention and Intervention Resources
Massachusetts law led to the Model Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan and implementation of model practices in school staff professional development in bullying prevention. - National Center on Safe Supportive Learning Environments (NCSSLE)
Funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Healthy Students. Bullying is defined as a form of unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-age children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and that is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. This site describes physical, verbal, social bullying, and cyberbullying and features resources. - National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Select A-Z Topics, and then select Bullying. - National Crime Prevention Council
The National Crime Prevention Council’s mission is to be the nation’s leader in helping people keep themselves, their families, and their communities safe from crime. - National School Safety Center
The National School Safety Center (NSSC) serves as an advocate for safe, secure, and peaceful schools worldwide and as a catalyst for the prevention of school crime and violence. The NSSC provides school communities and their school safety partners with quality information, resources including bullying and cyberbullying, consultation, and training services. - Olweus Bullying Prevention Program
The site provides a summary of the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program developed by the Olweus Group. It is a comprehensive model that defines bullying/cyberbullying and utilizes annual surveys, classroom curriculum, implementation resources, and training. - Organizations and Resources that Support Youth
A list of California organizations providing support to youth and their families who have been subjected to school-related discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying/cyberbullying, including resources for youths affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological trauma caused by violence at home, school, and in the community. - PACER National Bullying Prevention Center
The organization provides classroom, family, and community resources and materials related to bullying and cyberbullying prevention, activities and events, and stories. Spanish language materials are available
- Stop Bullying
Stopbullying.gov is a national organization that provides information for students and adults defining bullying/cyberbullying, and offering advice on how to address the issues, resources, and materials. - Teaching Tolerance
Teaching Tolerance is a project of the Southern Poverty Law Center. It includes classroom resources and materials on bullying, cyberbullying, and school climate among many other topics related to tolerance.