88th Annual CASCWA State Conference

This presentation will take a look at how the recently enacted Workplace Violence laws relate to and interact with Special Education laws and students’ rights for a Free Appropriate Public Education.  Specifically, the presentation will assist attendees in understanding how a safe school environment can be created for staff and students using tools available for behavior modification and staff training.

This presentation focuses on the rights and protections for pregnant and parenting students, covering three key areas: reproductive health, parenting, and academic/social supports. Students are entitled to accommodations such as eight weeks of parental leave, excused absences for caring for a sick child, and lactation rooms. Under Title IX and California law, schools must prevent discrimination and ensure pregnant students remain full participants in education. Unfortunately, many students are unaware of these rights, leading to alternative schooling or dropout. This presentation aims to raise awareness and ensure that students receive the accommodations they are entitled to.

Riverside Unified School District’s Department of Wellness and Engagement supports students demonstrating social, emotional, and/or behavioral concerns impacting their ability to fully participate in daily instruction, school activities, or their overall educational experience with licensed therapists, school psychologists, and prevention assistants. The
program focuses on developing supports for students facing non-academic barriers to their learning. The department also supports a thriving structure for enhancing employee well-being.
Participants will gain knowledge about:
RUSD’s innovative program that includes 42 licensed therapists, 8 school psychologists, 20 prevention assistants, and a teacher on special assignment. Consider how attendees might implement a similar structure for counseling, behavior support, and the well-being of employees. These structures work within the Multi-Tiered System of Support framework.