BOARD POLICY - 5136.1
The Irvine Unified School District shall not tolerate any student or group action, symbolic or otherwise, which initiates or advocates activities that threaten the physical or emotional well-being of persons or property on school campuses or at school-sponsored activities, the commission of unlawful acts or the disruption of school operations.
The Board of Education recognizes that the need for social belonging is a strong driving force among young people and that social skills development is an important element of an individual’s growth. Positive interaction with adults and peers fosters increased understanding of one’s own self-worth and enhances academic, social, emotional and physical skills development.
Formal and informal student affiliation with groups that nourish positive growth among students is encouraged; however, student affiliation with any group which impacts negatively upon student growth and development must be discouraged and avoided.
The Superintendent or designee shall develop appropriate administrative regulations to ensure that any student or group initiating or advocating such activities shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
As needed, sites shall provide training which helps staff to identify gangs and gang symbols, recognize early manifestations of disruptive activities, and respond appropriately to gang behavior. Staff shall be informed about conflict management techniques and alerted to intervention measures and community resources.
To further discourage the influence of gangs, the Superintendent or designee shall ensure that school rules of conduct and any school dress code prohibiting gang-related apparel are enforced consistently. If a student exhibits signs of gang affiliation, staff shall so inform the parent/guardian.
Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE
35183 Gang-related apparel
32282 School safety plans
48907 Student exercise of free expression
51264 Educational in-service training; CDE guidelines
51265 Gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention in-service training
51266 51266.5 Model gang and substance abuse prevention curriculum
PENAL CODE
186.22 Participation in criminal street gang
13826 13826.7 Gang violence suppression
UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20
7101 7184 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act
Management Resources:
CDE PUBLICATIONS
On Alert: Gang Prevention in School and In-service Guidelines, January 1994
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Protecting Our Schools: Governing Board Strategies to Combat School Violence, 1995
Policy Adopted: November 20, 1990
Policy Revised: July 11, 2017