BP 1112 - Media Relations (BP revised) - Policy updated to expand the section on "Crisis Communications Plan" to apply to natural disasters, involve district technology personnel in the development of the plan, and expand the contents of the plan. Policy also updated to encourage the establishment of priorities and key messages for proactive communications with the media, clarify that media representatives can be required to register before coming on campus only if the district has adopted a policy requiring all visitors to register, and clarify that the only student directory information that may be released to the media is that information designated by the district in AR 5125.1 - Release of Directory Information. AR 3320 - Claims and Actions Against the District (AR revised) - Regulation updated to add statement requiring the use of district procedures for claims against the district prior to filing a lawsuit. Regulation also defines "limited civil case" as one that is for an amount of $25,000 or less. BP/AR 3551 - Food Service Operations/Cafeteria Fund (BP/AR revised) - Policy updated to reflect NEW FEDERAL REGULATION (84 Fed. Reg. 8247) and updated California Department of Education (CDE) guidance giving districts with an average daily attendance of less than 2,500 greater flexibility in the hiring of food service directors. Policy also consolidates material on nondiscrimination toward students who have unpaid meal fees and those who participate in the free and reduced-price meal program. Regulation updated to reflect NEW LAW (AB 3043, 2018) which permits the use of cafeteria funds to (1) pay for the purchase of a mobile food facility and (2) supplement the cost of providing universal breakfast in districts that do not provide universal breakfast under a federal program, provided they submit the required certification to CDE. Regulation also updates section on U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) donated foods to reflect current requirements for the safe storage and control of the foods. In both policy and regulation, CDE and USDA guidance renumbered when superseded by newer guidance. AR 4117.7/4317.7 - Employment Status Reports (AR revised) - Regulation updated pursuant to Education Code 44940 to include a violation or attempted violation of Penal Code 187 (murder) in the definition of a "mandatory leave of absence offense." BP 4119.24/4219.24/4319.24 - Maintaining Appropriate Adult-Student Interactions (BP added) - New policy addresses the avoidance of unlawful and inappropriate interactions between staff and students, an employee's responsibility to report another employee's violation of this policy, disciplinary consequences for staff, referral to law enforcement when appropriate, the requirement to post the code of conduct on school and/or district websites, and examples of conduct that are inappropriate or can create the appearance of impropriety. BP/AR 4218 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action (BP added; AR revised) - New policy contains material formerly in AR pertaining to board actions in disciplinary hearings for classified employees and new material consistent with BP 4118 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action for certificated employees. Policy also reflects NEW LAW (AB 2234, 2018) which requires the board to delegate its authority to an administrative law judge in cases involving allegations of egregious misconduct with a minor. Regulation updates and consolidates the causes for disciplinary action. Regulation also adds the requirement to set a timeline by which the employee may request a hearing, which must be not less than five days after serving notice upon the employee. Section on "Compulsory Leave of Absence" expanded to define "mandatory" and "optional" leave of absence offenses and reflect requirements pertaining to extension of the leave and compensation during the leave. Material pertaining to merit system districts moved to BP/AR 4218.1 - Dismissal/Suspension/Disciplinary Action (Merit System). BP/AR 6142.1 - Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention Instruction (BP/AR revised) - Policy updated to more directly reflect the goals of the California Healthy Youth Act, incorporate the legal requirement for districts whose graduation requirements include completion of a health education course to include instruction on the affirmative consent standard, and reflect NEW LAW (SB 1104, 2018) which requires districts offering grades 6-12 to provide information on human trafficking prevention resources to parents/guardians by January 1, 2020. Policy also adds timeline for notification to parents/guardians that they may request to excuse their child from comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention education. Regulation updated to reflect NEW LAW (AB 1861, 2018) which requires that comprehensive sexual health education include specified information regarding human trafficking, and NEW LAW (AB 1868, 2018) which authorizes instruction regarding the potential risks and consequences of electronically sharing suggestive or sexually explicit materials. Section on "Professional Development" updated to reflect a legal requirement to provide periodic staff development regarding sexual abuse and human trafficking. BP/AR 6142.2 - World Language Instruction (BP/AR revised) - Policy and regulation retitled to be consistent with terminology used in the Education Code pursuant to NEW LAW (AB 2319, 2018). Policy and regulation updated to reflect NEW STATE CONTENT STANDARDS for world language instruction adopted by the State Board of Education in January 2019. Policy also reflects University of California guidance stating that American Sign Language courses may be used to satisfy world language coursework requirements for college admission, and reflects state regulations which require districts to establish a process for receiving and responding to input from parents/guardians and other stakeholders regarding the world language in which instruction will be provided in any program sufficient to produce proficiency in a world language. Regulation also reflects state regulation requiring districts to establish a process for receiving and responding to parent/guardian requests to establish a language acquisition program not currently offered at the school. BP 6142.6 - Visual and Performing Arts Education (BP revised) - Policy updated to reflect revised content standards for visual and performing arts, including media arts, adopted by the State Board of Education in January 2019. Policy incorporates the philosophical foundation,lifelong goals, and artistic processes upon which the state standards are based. BP/AR 6145.6 - International Exchange (BP/AR revised) - Policy updated to clarify the scope of the policy, separate material pertaining to district students studying in another country and material pertaining to international exchange students studying in district schools, and reflect CSBA Legal Guidance. Policy also addresses student eligibility, information to obtain from the placement organization, and methods that may be used to calculate the total cost of educating an international student for the purpose of determining tuition. Regulation reflects the requirement to provide the placement organization with written acceptance of a student's enrollment, clarifies that a student's enrollment may be for one semester or one year, and adds optional language regarding the provision of a school transcript. BP 6179 - Supplemental Instruction (BP revised) - Policy updated to reflect current law requiring the provision of remedial instruction to students who are recommended for retention or are identified as being at risk for retention. Policy also deletes reference to federal Title I program improvement which is no longer operational, and clarifies that schools identified for comprehensive or targeted school improvement may, but are not required to, offer supplemental instruction.
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