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​​​All school districts are required to adopt a complaint procedure (or modify an existing procedure) to include complaints regarding instructional materials, facilities and teacher misassignments or vacancies. A notice must be posted in every classroom informing the public of the textbook sufficiency standard and the facility standard, and the availability of complaint forms. The procedure must establish where to file the complaint, who is responsible for resolution, and the time allowed for resolution of the complaint. Appeals are filed with the CA Department of Education (not with SCCOE). 

Here is the California School Boards Association's sample Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure Administrative Regulation for districts.

• Quarterly Report Form
• SCCOE public notice in English, Spanish and Vietnamese
• Williams Complaint Form in English and Spanish
  
• SCCOE Public Notice with 10-12 Grade
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

Division: Instruction, Leadership and Innovation

Program: Williams Visits

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​Contact: (408) 453-6508

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The term “Williams” is commonly used to refer to several issues for which standards of service were established in a 2004 settlement to a lawsuit Williams v. State of California. ​ As a part of the settlement, California created new state law (sections of Education Code) stipulating that certain levels of service must be maintained by California school districts in the service of students, their parents and guardians, and the local educators. Additionally, the settlement established regular formal monitoring for “Williams” issues, and it created complaint procedures for anyone with concerns regarding compliance to the laws.

​Package of Legislation Passed and Signed by the Governor

AB 599 was signed by the Governor on October 8, 2021. 

Districts & Charters are included in the Williams County Reviews

The Williams list is now based off of California’s current accountability system, along with additional criteria:

• schools identified for comprehensive support and improvement (CSI) 

• schools identified for additional targeted support and improvement (ATSI) 

• schools where 15% or more of the teachers are holders of a permit, certificate, or any other authorization that is a lesser certification than a preliminary or clear California teaching credential

• DASS (Dashboard Alternative School Status) Schools are not included in Williams Reviews

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From the law with references to Ed Code: The priority objective of the visits made pursuant to this paragraph shall be to determine the status of all of the following circumstances:

(i) Sufficient textbooks, as defined in Section 60119 and as specified in subdivision (i).

(ii) The condition of a facility that poses an emergency or urgent threat to the health or safety of pupils or staff, as described in school district policy or paragraph (1) of subdivision (c) of Section 17592.72.

(iii) The accuracy of data reported on the School Accountability Report Card with respect to the availability of sufficient textbooks and instructional materials, as defined by Section 60119, and the safety, cleanliness, and adequacy of school facilities, including good repair, as required by Sections 17014, 17032.5, 17070.75, and 17089.

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REQUIRED INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS

The school must ensure that all pupils, including English learners, have sufficient textbooks and instructional materials to use in class and to take home to complete homework assignments. This does not mean two textbooks. Sufficient textbooks or instructional materials do not include photocopied sheets from only a portion of a textbook or instructional material to address shortages. Sufficient textbooks or instructional materials must meet the district’s standards for textbooks in the four core subjects of English language arts, mathematics, history/social studies and science. In addition, there must be textbooks for foreign language and health, and, in grades 9-12, science laboratory equipment.

In instances where there are insufficient textbooks, the CDE will purchase the textbooks for the district. If the CDE must purchase instructional materials for a district, the State Board shall issue a public statement indicating the district superintendent and the governing board failed to provide pupils with sufficient textbooks as required by law.

FACILITY MAINTENANCE

The school must ensure that its facilities are clean, safe and in good repair, and that all unforeseeable emergency facilities needs are being addressed. Unforeseeable emergency needs are defined as gas leaks, nonfunctioning heating/air conditioning or ventilation systems, power failures, major sewer line stoppages, pest infestations, broken windows, doors or gates that will not lock, hazardous materials abatement or unforeseen structural damage creating hazardous or uninhabitable conditions. The settlement requires all school districts to include data on these topics in the SARC.

TEACHER MISASSIGNMENTS AND VACANCIES

The county, under current law, monitors schools for teacher assignments and now must also give priority to monitoring Decile 1-3 schools and investigate district and school efforts to ensure that any credentialed teacher in an assignment requiring Crosscultural Language and Academic Development (CLAD), Bilingual CLAD (BCLAD) or SB 1969/395 training has completed the necessary requirements or is otherwise authorized by law to have that assignment. The annual report to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) shall also be submitted to the CDE, and shall include information on any classes in Decile 1-3 schools in which 20% or more of the students are English learners and the assigned teacher does not possess the credentials required by law. The CDE will prepare a report for the legislature concerning misassignments.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT REQUIREMENTS OF THE SETTLEMENT

a. Ordering of Textbooks and Instructional Materials

To the extent practicable, districts shall ensure that instructional materials are ordered before the school year begins. If there is an insufficiency of materials, the board shall take action to ensure each student has sufficient textbooks or instructional materials within two months from the beginning of the school year

b. Complaint System

Districts must adopt a complaint system (or modify an existing complaint system) to include complaints regarding instructional materials, teacher misassignments/vacancies and facilities.  Complaints shall be filed with the principal (or designee) of the school, and the principal shall forward certain complaints to the district superintendent (or designee). The school official shall make reasonable efforts to investigate and shall remedy problems within 30 working days. The school official shall report the resolution of the matter to the complainant within 45 working days. Complainants not satisfied may complain directly to the board at the next regular meeting. Quarterly, districts shall provide summaries of complaints and resolutions to the board and county superintendent, which shall be reported at a regular board meeting. Complaints and responses shall be public records.

A notice shall be posted in each classroom that sets forth the textbook sufficiency standard and the facility standards (clean, safe and maintained in good repair). Visit the CDE website for a copy of the Williams notice and more information on pre-Williams Uniform Complaint Procedures​.

Complaint forms should be made available in school offices and the district office. Appeals are submitted directly to CA Department of Education. 

c. Amendments to the School Accountability Report Card (SARC) 

The SARC shall be amended to add the number of teacher misassignments and vacancies to the existing assessment of teachers. The field related to "safety, cleanliness, and adequacy of school facilities" includes information regarding emergency or urgent school facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health or safety of students. Visit the CDE website for more information on SARC.

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• Contact: (408) 453-6508