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Welcome to Instructional Support Services

The mission of the Instructional Support Services Division is to provide leadership and support services that assist students, staff, and families in overcoming barriers so as to ensure access to the District's comprehensive educational program in a welcoming, safe, and nurturing environment.

Professional Development Opportunites:

Social-Emotional Learning
De-escalation Training
Behavioral Intervention Specialist Training
Multi-Tiered Support Systems (MTSS)

Youth Services Provided:

Mentoring
PROUD Academy
National Youth Sports Program (NYSP)
Youth Leadership Development

Equity Compliance Information

social-emotional support resources

Multi-tiered systems of support

mental health awareness

Additional Information

Climate, Culture, and Safety Walks

Bakersfield City School District recognizes that one of the most critical things we have to ensure in our education system is that parents are authentically engaged. We want to make sure that our parents are involved in meaningful ways where they can come and give feedback on the culture, climate, and safety of their child's school. Using the School Culture, Climate, and Safety Expectations Rubric, parent leaders engage in a structured tour and feedback session in order to rate various indicators. Parents then give suggestions, from their point of view, about what the school can do to improve. School administrators can use this valuable information to implement informed plans for change and provide specific positive feedback to staff regarding the observations of the visitors.

Additional Information:

Field Trips

Immigration Rights

Immigration Rights Information

Immigration Enforcement Actions

Your Child has the Right to a Free Public Education

All children have a right to equal access to free public education, regardless of their or their parents’/guardians’ immigration status.
All children in California:
- Have the right to free public education.
- Must be enrolled in school if they are between 6 and 18 years old.
- Have the right to attend safe, secure, and peaceful schools.
- Have a right to be in a public school learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, bullying, violence, and intimidation.
- Have equal opportunity to participate in any program or activity offered by the school without discrimination.

Information Required for School Enrollment

Schools must accept a variety of documents from the student’s parent or guardian to demonstrate proof of the child’s age or residency.
Information about citizenship/immigration status is never needed for school enrollment. A Social Security number is never needed for school enrollment.

Confidentiality of Personal Information

Federal and state laws protect student education records and personal information. These laws generally require that schools get written consent from parents or guardians before releasing student information, unless the release of information is for educational purposes, is already public, or is in response to a court order or subpoena.
Some schools collect and provide publicly basic student “directory information.” If so, the school district must provide parents/guardians with written notice of the directory information policy, and provide the option to refuse the release of your child’s information.

Family Safety Plans if You Are Detained or Deported

You can update your child’s emergency contact information, including secondary contacts, to identify a trusted adult guardian who can care for your child if you are detained or deported.
You can complete a Caregiver’s Authorization Affidavit or a Petition for Appointment of Temporary Guardian of the Person to give a trusted adult the authority to make educational and medical decisions for your child.

Right to File a Complaint

Your child has the right to report a hate crime or file a complaint to the school district if he or she is discriminated against, harassed, intimidated or bullied because of his or her actual or perceived nationality, ethnicity, or immigration status.

Checklist for Students and Families

1. You do not have to share the following information with school officials:

2. Take steps to protect student information:

3. Take steps to prepare for situations where one or more parents or guardians are detained or deported:

You do not have to share information, including passports or visas, regarding the immigration status of students, parents, guardians, or other family members.
You do not have to provide Social Security numbers (SSN) or cards.
- When completing the “Free and Reduced-Price Meals” form, only provide the last four digits of the SSN of the adult household member who signs the application.
- If the family meets the income eligibility requirements and no adult household member has a SSN, your child still qualifies. Check the “No SSN” box on forms where applicable, to ensure that applications are complete.
- If any household member participates in CalFresh, CalWORKs (California Work Opportunity and Responsibility for Kids), or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations), no adult household member needs to provide the last four digits of his or her SSN to qualify the student for free or reduced-price meals at school.
When providing information for proof of a student’s residency or age, you do not have to use documents that could reveal information related to immigration status.
Ask for the school’s written privacy policies regarding student information.
Review the school’s policy for “directory information” —which allows for public release of basic student information—and consider whether to opt-out of releasing of that information.
Develop and keep in a safe place a “Family Safety Plan” that includes the following information:
- Name of a trusted adult to care for your child if no parent or guardian can.
- Emergency phone numbers and instructions on where to find important documents (birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, doctor contact information, etc.)
Make sure that your child’s school always has current emergency contact information, including alternative contacts if no parent or guardian is available.

School Guidance and Model Policies

BCSD Immigrant Affairs Liaison

Patty Silva
FACE Representative
1300 Baker Street
Bakersfield, CA 93305
661-631-4763
silvap@bcsd.com

Research Proposal Request

The Bakersfield City School District receives numerous requests to conduct research each year. All requests are carefully considered with respect to their beneficial impact on and alignment with BCSD’s Values, Vision, and Mission. Instructional Support Services is responsible for reviewing and facilitating approvals of all research requests. All requests to conduct research within BCSD may be submitted by clicking the link below.

Bakersfield City School District Request to Conduct Research Form

The document below provides an overview of the guidelines by which research requests are considered for approval, assurances required, and procedures for submitting a request.

Guidelines for Research Request Approval

Pregnant, Married, or Parenting Students

Preventing & Responding to Hate Motivated Behavior

The Bakersfield City School District is a community that celebrates the diversity of our schools and community. BCSD is committed to a culture of access and inclusion to ensure a multi-tiered system of supports for all students. It is our expectation that the school and workplace environment be free from discriminatory attitudes and practices and acts of hate violence.

What is Hate Motivated Behavior?

Every student has the right to be protected from "hate-motivated" behavior. Behavior or statements that degrade an individual on the basis of the individual’s race, ethnicity, culture, heritage, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, physical/mental attributes or religious beliefs or practices shall not be tolerated and may be considered “hate-motivated” speech or "hate-motivated" behavior.

Any student or parent/guardian who believes is a victim of hate-motivated behavior is strongly encouraged to report the incident to a teacher, the principal or designee, or other staff member. An investigation concerning the allegation and an appropriate response(s) will be provided by the principal or designee. If the student reporting the behavior believes that the situation has not been remedied by the principal or designee, the student may file a complaint in accordance with District uniform complaint procedures by contacting the District’s Chief Equity Compliance Officer, Section 504 Coordinator, and Title IX Coordinator, Erin Johnston, by phone at (661) 631-4663, by email at johnstone@bcsd.com or in person at 1300 Baker Street, Bakersfield, CA 93305.

Board Policy 601.12 Hate-Motivated Behavior

Revision Adopted October 22, 2019

The Governing Board is committed to providing a safe learning environment that protects students from discrimination, harassment, intimidation, bullying, and other behavior motivated by a person’s hostility towards another person’s real or perceived ethnicity, national origin, immigrant status, sex, gender, sexual orientation, religious belief, age, disability, or any other physical or cultural characteristic. The Governing Board affirms the right of every student to be protected from hate-motivated behavior or other types of bias-motivated misconduct. It is the intent of the Board to promote harmonious relationships that enable students to gain a true understanding of the civil rights and social responsibilities of people in our interdependent society. Students are expected to acknowledge diversity and to help build community by practicing civility, respect, and hospitality.

Regardless of the communication form (e.g., verbal, nonverbal, electronic), behavior that degrades an individual on the basis of any category listed above shall not be tolerated.

The District shall adopt and publicize policies that prohibit discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying on the basis of a student’s actual or perceived nationality, ethnicity, or immigration status. These policies must be translated in the student’s primary language if at least 15 percent of the students enrolled in the school speak a single primary language other than English.

The District shall notify parents and guardians of their children’s right to a free public education, regardless of immigration status or religious beliefs. This information shall include information related to the “Know Your Rights” immigration enforcement established by the Attorney General. The District shall inform students who are victims of hate crimes of their right to report such crimes.

The Superintendent or designee shall collaborate with regional programs and community organizations to promote safe environments for youth. Such collaborative efforts shall focus on ensuring an efficient use of District and community resources, developing effective prevention strategies and response plans, providing assistance to students affected by hate-motivated behavior, and/or educating students who have perpetrated hate-motivated acts.

The District shall provide students with age-appropriate instruction that includes the development of social-emotional learning, promotes their understanding of and respect for human rights, diversity, and acceptance in a multicultural society, and provides strategies to manage conflicts constructively.

As necessary, the District shall provide counseling, guidance, and support to students who are victims of hate-motivated behavior and to students who exhibit such behavior.

(cf. BP 603.18 – Guidance/Counseling Services)

The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the rules prohibiting hate-motivated behavior and procedures for reporting a hate-motivated incident are provided to students and parents/guardians.

The District shall educate students about the negative impact of bullying other students based on their actual or perceived immigration status or their religious beliefs or customs.

The Superintendent or designee shall provide staff with training on recognizing and preventing hate- motivated behavior and on effectively enforcing rules for appropriate student conduct.

The District shall also train teachers, staff, and personnel to ensure that they are aware of their legal duty to take reasonable steps to eliminate a hostile environment and respond to any incidents of harassment based on the actual or perceived characteristics listed above. Such training should, as a minimum, provide agency personnel with the skills to do the following:

Discuss the varying immigration experiences among members of the student body and school community;
Discuss bullying-prevention strategies with students, and teach students to recognize the behavior and characteristics of bullying perpetrators and victims;
Identify the signs of bullying or harassing behavior;
Take immediate corrective action when bullying is observed; and
Report incidents to the appropriate authorities, including law enforcement in instances of criminal behavior.

Complaint Process

The District shall adopt a process for receiving and investigating complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on any of the following actual or perceived characteristics: disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, immigration status, or any other characteristic mentioned in Board Policy 601.14 – Nondiscrimination/Harassment, or association with a person or group with one or more of the aforementioned characteristics. The complaint process must include, but is not limited to, the following steps:

A requirement that, if school personnel witness an act of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, they shall take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so.
A timeline to investigate and resolve complaints of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying that shall be followed by all schools under the jurisdiction of the local educational agency.
An appeal process afforded to the complainant should he or she disagree with the resolution of a complaint.
The District shall ensure that complaint procedures contain confidentiality safeguards for immigration status information.
The District shall prohibit retaliation against a person who submits a complaint of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

Any student or parent/guardian who believes is the student is a victim of hate-motivated behavior is strongly encouraged to report the incident to a teacher, the principal or designee, or other staff member. An investigation concerning the allegation and an appropriate response(s) will be provided by the principal or designee. If the student reporting the behavior believes that the situation has not been remedied by the principal or designee, the student may file a complaint in accordance with District uniform complaint procedures.

(cf. BP 605.03 – Uniform Complaint Procedures)

Staff who receive notice of hate-motivated behavior, personally observes such behavior, or otherwise becomes aware of an incident shall immediately contact the principal or the compliance officer responsible for coordinating the District’s response to complaints and complying with state and federal civil rights laws. As appropriate, they shall also contact law enforcement.

Students demonstrating hate-motivated behavior shall be subject to discipline in accordance with Board policy and administrative regulation. Consequences should be designed to help prevent the repetition of hateful, bias acts and change both the behavior and attitude of the offender.

(cf. BP 601.04 – Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process)
(cf. BP 601.07 – School Discipline)
(cf. BP 606.06 – Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process [Pupils with Disabilities])
An investigation into the potential seriousness of a student’s behavior shall follow any hate-motivated behavior and, if determined to be discriminatory, shall be resolved in accordance with law and the District’s uniform complaint procedures specified in Administrative Regulation 605.03 – Uniform Complaint Procedures. The investigation should help determine whether the student has the interest, motive, and means to mount an attack or subsequent attack. When the initial investigation identifies the potential for harm, a structured threat assessment will be initiated and appropriate risk management actions taken to help ensure the safety of persons potentially in harm’s way. If, during the investigation, it is determined that a complaint is about nondiscriminatory behavior, the principal or designee shall inform the complainant and shall take all necessary actions to resolve the complaint.
(cf. BP 300.36 – Crisis Prevention and Intervention)
(cf. BP 601.04 – Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process)
(cf. BP 605.03 – Uniform Complaint Procedures)
(cf. BP 606.06 – Suspension and Expulsion/Due Process (Pupils with Disabilities)

Legal Reference:
EDUCATION CODE

200-262.4 Prohibition of discrimination
32282 School safety plans
48900.3 Suspension for hate violence
48900.4 Suspension or expulsion for threats or harassment

PENAL CODE

186.21 Street terrorism; legislative findings and declarations
422.55 Definition of hate crime
422.6-422.95 Crimes, harassment

CODE OF REGULATIONS, TITLE 5

4600-4670 Uniform complaint procedures
4900-4965 Nondiscrimination in elementary and secondary education programs

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 28

35.107 Nondiscrimination on basis of disability; complaints

CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS, TITLE 34

100.3 Prohibition of discrimination on basis of race, color or national origin
104.7 Designation of responsible employee for Section 504
106.8 Designation of responsible employee for Title IX
110.25 Prohibition of discrimination based on age

Policy Adopted May 28, 2002

Revision Adopted August 2, 2018

Revision Adopted October 22, 2019

Contact Information

Dr. Tim Fulenwider
Executive Director
(661) 631-4872
fulenwidert@bcsd.com

María Terrazas
Administrative Secretary
(661) 631-4654
terrazasm@bcsd.com

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