Board Policy

BP 5136

Students

Gangs

The Board of Education desires to keep district schools free from the threats or harmful influence of any groups or gangs which exhibit drug use, violence or disruptive behavior. The Superintendent or designee shall take steps to deter gang intimidation of students and staff and confrontations between members of different gangs. He/she shall exchange information and establish mutually supportive efforts with local law enforcement authorities.

(cf. 3515.1 - Crime Data Reporting)

(cf. 5131.4 - Campus Disturbances)

(cf. 5131.7 - Weapons and Dangerous Instruments)

The Superintendent or designee shall provide inservice 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.

The Board realizes that students become involved in gangs for many reasons, such as peer pressure, the need for a sense of belonging, and lack of refusal skills. Age-appropriate gang violence prevention education shall start with students in the early elementary grades and may start in kindergarten.

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.

(cf. 0450 - Comprehensive Safety Plan)

(cf. 5132 - Dress and Grooming)

(cf. 6164.2 - Guidance/Counseling Services)

Legal Reference:

EDUCATION CODE

32230-32239 School Violence Reduction Program

35183 Gang-related apparel

35294.1 School safety plans

48907 Student exercise of free expression

51264 Educational inservice training; CDE guidelines

51265 Gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention inservice training

51266-51266.5 Model gang and substance abuse prevention curriculum

58730-58736 Gang Risk Intervention Programs

PENAL CODE

186.22 Participation in criminal street gang

13826-13826.7 Gang violence suppression

UNITED STATES CODE, TITLE 20

7101-7143 Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1994

Management Resources:

CDE PUBLICATIONS

On Alert: Gang Prevention in School and Inservice Guidelines, January 1994

CSBA PUBLICATIONS

Protecting Our Schools: Board of Education Strategies to Combat School Violence, 1995

Policy PALOS VERDES PENINSULA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

adopted: March 8, 2001 Palos Verdes Estates, California