ECS is committed to addressing concerns from students, families, and community members promptly and fairly. This page provides information on how to file a complaint, report harassment or discrimination, and submit general feedback. All complaints are taken seriously and investigated in accordance with California and federal law. No person will be retaliated against for filing a complaint or participating in an investigation.
Uniform Complaint (UCP): Program violations, pupil fees, LCAP, discrimination/harassment (formal written)
What the UCP covers: Complaints alleging violations of federal or state law governing:
- Accommodations for Pregnant, Parenting, or Lactating Students
- Adult Education Programs
- Career Technical Education and Training Programs
- Child Care and Development Programs
- Consolidated Categorical Aid Programs
- Every Student Succeeds Act programs
- Education of Students in Foster Care, Homeless Students, former Juvenile Court Students, Migratory Children, and Children of Military Families
- Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) / Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF)
- Migrant Child Education Programs
- Pupil Fees (Ed. Code § 49011)
- Regional Occupational Centers and Programs
- State Preschool Programs
Special education (IDEA) and child nutrition program complaints are governed by separate federal and state frameworks and are not covered by the UCP. See the dedicated sections below for filing instructions.
Filing deadline: Discrimination/HIDB complaints: within 6 months of the incident or the date you first learned of the facts. The Superintendent may extend this up to 90 additional calendar days for good cause. All other UCP complaints: within 1 year of the alleged violation. LCAP complaints: within 1 year of the date the Board approved the relevant LCAP or annual update.
How to file:
- Complete the UCP Complaint Form (see button below).
- Submit to the ECS Compliance Officer by email, mail, or in person at any ECS school office.
- If you cannot write your complaint due to disability or illiteracy, ECS staff will assist you (5 CCR § 4600).
- Complaints alleging pupil fees, LCAP violations, or noncompliance with Ed. Code §§ 243-244 may be filed anonymously.
Investigation timeline: ECS will complete its investigation and issue a written Decision within 60 calendar days of receiving your complaint, unless you agree in writing to an extension.
Appeal rights: If dissatisfied with ECS’s Decision, you may appeal in writing to the California Department of Education (CDE) within 30 calendar days of receiving the Decision. Your appeal must include a copy of your original complaint and ECS’s Decision. The CDE will issue a written appeal decision within 60 calendar days of receipt. (5 CCR § 4632)
Compliance Officer:
Sarah Jamieson
Director of Human Resources
2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 214-3408, ext. 1603
sarah_jamieson@ecsonline.org
Title IX: Sexual harassment or sex-based discrimination
ECS does not discriminate on the basis of sex in any education program or activity as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq.) and 34 C.F.R. Part 106. This policy applies on campus, during school-sponsored events, and through school-owned technology, regardless of location.
What Title IX covers: Formal complaints of sexual harassment, including: quid pro quo harassment by an employee; unwelcome conduct so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to ECS programs; or sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking (34 CFR § 106.30).
How to file a formal complaint:
- Complete the Title IX Sex Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Form.
- The complainant must be currently participating in or attempting to participate in an ECS education program or activity at the time of filing.
- Submit the signed complaint to the Title IX Coordinator.
ECS will investigate and respond to all oral and written reports promptly. A formal written complaint is not required to receive supportive measures. Reports may be made anonymously, but formal disciplinary action cannot be based solely on an anonymous report.
Investigation and decision timeline: Upon receipt of a formal complaint, ECS will send written notice of allegations to all parties and complete a thorough investigation. A written determination of responsibility will be issued within 20 business days after the investigation report is sent to the parties. Either party may appeal to the President of the ECS Board of Directors within 5 business days of receiving the determination.
Title IX Coordinator:
Sarah Jamieson
Director of Human Resources
2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 214-3408, ext. 1603
sarah_jamieson@ecsonline.org
External Complaints: Complaints may also be filed with the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (OCR):
Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education
50 Beale Street, Suite 8-200, San Francisco, CA 94105
Phone: (415) 486-5555 | ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov
Harassment, Intimidation, Discrimination or Bullying (HIDB): Bullying, harassment, or discrimination (informal, oral, or anonymous reports)
ECS prohibits harassment, intimidation, discrimination, and bullying on the basis of any actual or perceived protected characteristic. This applies on campus, in transit to and from school, during school-sponsored activities, and through school-owned technology. (Ed. Code § 48900.4)
The HIDB policy operates alongside the UCP and Title IX policies. Which pathway applies depends on the nature and form of your complaint:
Pathway A — Formal HIDB Complaint (use the UCP): If your complaint is written, signed, and filed within 6 months of the incident, submit it as a UCP complaint. Use the UCP Complaint Form and submit to the ECS Compliance Officer. The 60-day investigation timeline and 30-day CDE appeal right apply. See the Uniform Complaint (UCP) section in the left column.
Pathway B — Sex-Based Harassment: If your complaint involves sex discrimination or sexual harassment, use the Title IX pathway. See the Title IX section in middle column.
Pathway C — All Other HIDB Reports (oral, anonymous, informal, or outside the 6-month UCP window): For any HIDB misconduct that does not meet the written/signed/6-month UCP requirements — including informal concerns, oral reports, and anonymous tips — use this pathway.
- Written reports are encouraged but not required. Oral reports are accepted.
- Anonymous reports are accepted but cannot, standing alone, result in formal disciplinary action.
- Staff who witness prohibited misconduct are required to intervene when safe to do so and report immediately.
- Students should report to a teacher, counselor, Principal, or other trusted staff member. Reports will be taken seriously regardless of form.
Submit to:
Director of Human Resources (or Superintendent if the complaint is against the HR Director)
2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
(310) 214-3408, ext. 1603
sarah_jamieson@ecsonline.org
Investigation: ECS will complete its investigation within 25 school days in most cases.
Appeal: If dissatisfied with ECS’s resolution, submit a written appeal to the President of the ECS Board of Directors within 5 business days of receiving notice of the decision.
Child Nutrition program complaints:
Complaints regarding the National School Lunch Program, School Breakfast Program, or other child nutrition programs are not processed through the UCP. They are governed by 7 C.F.R. sections 210.19(a)(4), 215.1(a), 220.13(c), 225.11(b), 226.6(n), and 250.15(d), and Title 5, C.C.R. sections 15580-15584. To file a child nutrition complaint, contact the ECS Compliance Officer, who will direct your complaint through the appropriate federal and state channels. You may also file directly with: California Department of Education, Nutrition Services Division (916) 322-4533 | nsd@cde.ca.gov. Complainants dissatisfied with the CDE’s resolution may escalate to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Western Regional Office: (415) 705-1310 | www.fns.usda.gov/fns-regional-offices
Special Education program complaints: Complaints regarding special education programs are not processed through the UCP. They are governed by 5 C.C.R. sections 3200-3205 and 34 C.F.R. sections 300.151-300.153 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). ECS operates within the El Dorado Charter SELPA. For IDEA compliance complaints, contact the ECS campus Section 504/Special Education Coordinator (see the Accessibility page) or file directly with: California Department of Education, Special Education Division www.cde.ca.gov/sp/se/. IEP disputes may also be resolved through mediation or due process hearing through the Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH): (916) 263-0880 | www.dgs.ca.gov/OAH
For concerns not covered by the complaint processes above, contact your school directly or reach our main office:
ECS Main Office: (310) 214-3408 | 2625 Manhattan Beach Blvd, Suite 100, Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Your Rights:
- ECS is the LEA primarily responsible for compliance with federal and state educational program laws.
- Students shall not be required to pay a pupil fee for participation in an educational activity. (Ed. Code § 49011)
- Copies of ECS’s UCP are available free of charge upon request.
- If a UCP complaint is filed directly with the CDE and merits direct intervention, the CDE will complete an investigation within 60 calendar days of receipt.
- Complainants have the right to appeal ECS’s UCP Decision to the CDE within 30 calendar days.
- CDE will issue an appeal decision within 60 calendar days of receipt of the appeal.
- If ECS finds merit in a complaint, it will take corrective actions to provide a remedy to the affected student and/or parent/guardian.
- Civil law remedies, including injunctions and restraining orders, may be available under state or federal discrimination laws. For state law discrimination complaints, complainants must wait 60 days after filing a CDE appeal before pursuing civil remedies. Federal law complaints (including Title IX) may be brought to OCR at any time.
- No retaliation will be taken against any complainant.
Accessibility Notice
Persons with disabilities may request this information in an alternative format. Contact the ECS Main Office at (310) 214-3408. TTY users may call 711. Assistance in filing a complaint is available to any person who cannot prepare a written complaint due to disability or illiteracy.
Last updated: April 2026