Complaint Procedures

The Metropolitan Education District believes that the quality of the education program can improve when the district listens to concerns, considers differences of opinion, and resolves disagreements and complaints through an established, objective process.

This page contains information about how to file a formal complaint at the District level. It does not address the process for resolving problems at the school site level. In general, if you have a concern about a particular school site, it is almost always best to raise the concern with the principal or vice-principal. If you don’t know how to reach the appropriate person at the school site level, please contact the Director of Human Resources at mazevedo@metroed.net, and she can help direct you to the right person. If you are not satisfied with the response at the site level, you may file a formal complaint.

The two main categories of complaints that are filed at the District level are either Uniform Complaints or Williams Complaints.

A Williams Complaint is a particular kind of complaint, and it concerns the sufficiency of instructional materials; emergency or urgent facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of pupils; and teacher vacancy or misassignment.
Almost all other complaints are Uniform Complaints, which include discrimination, harassment (including sexual harassment), complaints about a District employee or District policy or practice, etc. In most cases, you need to try to resolve the problem at the school site level before bringing a formal complaint at the District level. In some cases, the law allows you to file a complaint directed at the District level. If you have questions about this process, please contact the District Compliance Officer, mazevedo@metroed.net.

To access the form you need to file a complaint, click on one of the links below. If you need help filling out the form, please ask an administrator at your school site, or contact the District Compliance Officer at mazevedo@metroed.net or 408.723.6569.

Uniform Complaints

For more information about Uniform Complaints, please refer to the following:

Download the Uniform Complaint Form: English | Español

This form may be used to file a formal complaint regarding:

Unlawful discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, intimidation or bullying. In this context, discrimination based on the following characteristics is unlawful under state or federal law: age; ancestry; color; disability (physical or mental); ethnic group identification; gender; gender expression; gender identity; genetic information; homelessness or foster status; marital, parenting or breastfeeding status; nationality; national origin; race or ethnicity; religion; sex (this includes sexual harassment and acts of sexual misconduct); sexual orientation; or based on association with any of these actual or perceived characteristics.
Retaliation against a complainant or other participant in the complaint process or anyone who has acted to uncover or report a violation subject to the uniform complaint procedures.
District violations of state or federal law or regulations, including those covering the following programs: Adult Education; Career/Technical Education; Education Opportunities of Pupils in Foster Care or Pupils who are homeless and Former Juvenile Court Pupils; English Learner Programs; School Safety Plans; Special Education.
General complaints about a Metropolitan Education District policy, practice or procedure; a school site-level practice or procedure; or District employee. (Note: Employee/ employee complaints may also be filed with the District Compliance Officer and will then be routed to Human Resources for resolution).

What happens after a complaint is filed?

Once a formal complaint is filed, you will receive confirmation that your complaint has been received, along with a date-stamped copy of the complaint via email. The District Compliance Officer (DCO) will review your complaint, determine if an investigation is warranted and if so, will oversee that investigation. It is very likely that the DCO or someone else working on the complaint will ask to speak with you or will contact you by email to invite you to submit any additional information that you want to be considered during this review, so please make sure your contact information is legible and accurate on the complaint form. Within 60 days, the DCO will issue the District’s written response to your complaint, and will also let you know how you can appeal the decision if you are not satisfied.

Williams Complaints

A “Williams” Complaint is for complaints about the sufficiency of instructional materials; emergency or urgent facilities conditions that pose a threat to the health and safety of pupils; and teacher vacancy or misassignment.

For more information about filing a Williams Act Complaint, please see:

AR 1312.4

Williams Uniform Complaint Form: English

Notification of Non-Discrimination Policy

BP 0410; BP 5145.3; AR 5145.3

The Metropolitan Education School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, religious creed, gender, sexual orientation, gender expression, marital or parental status, ancestry, ethnic group identification, disability, medical condition, homelessness or foster status, in its programs and activities, and provides equal access to the Boy Scouts and other designated youth groups. Discrimination based on protected class includes sexual harassment, sexual violence, and bullying.

For inquiries or concerns regarding Metropolitan Education District’s Nondiscrimination/Harassment policy or the filing of discrimination complaints contact:

Meagan Azevedo
District Compliance Officer
760 Hillsdale Ave Building 6, San Jose, CA 95136
Phone: 408.723.6569
Email: mazevedo@metroed.net

Inquiries and concerns about discrimination or harassment may also be directed to:

Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education
50 Beale Street, Suite 7200, San Francisco, CA 94105-1813
Telephone: 415.486.5555 Fax: 415.486.5570 TDD: 800.877.8339
Email: ocr.sanfrancisco@ed.gov

Aviso Referente a la Política de No Discriminación

BP 0410; BP 5145.3; AR 5145.3

Metropolitan Education District no discrimina en base a la raza, color, origen nacional, sexo, edad, creencia religiosa, género, orientación sexual, expresión de género, estado marital o parental, abolengo, origen nacional, identificación de grupo étnico, incapacidad/discapacidad, condición médica, estado de persona sin hogar o en crianza temporal, en sus programas y actividades y ofrece el mismo acceso a los Boy Scouts y a otros grupos designados de jóvenes. La discriminación basada en clase protegida incluye acoso sexual, violencia sexual y bullying.

Todas las consultas o preocupaciones referentes a la política de no discriminación 5145.3 del Metropolitan Education District o el presentar una denuncia de discriminación deben ponerse en contacto con:

Meagan Azevedo
District Compliance Officer
760 Hillsdale Ave Building 6, San Jose, CA 95136
Phone: 408.723.6569
Email: mazevedo@metroed.net

Las consultas también pueden ser referidas a:

Our History

MetroED’s programs have a long history of providing high school and adult education to students in Santa Clara County.

MetroED’s high school program has deep roots in San Jose, California that began as San Jose Technical High School (1917-1958). The all-male school was located on the site of San Jose High School. The school moved twice before becoming a center on Hillsdale Avenue, where it has been located since 1968.

MetroED’s adult program had its beginnings in 1870 when it was called Night School. Prior to World War I, this was largely an evening high school to permit young adults to make up deficiencies in their earlier education.

Nick's Success Story

"Once I completed the class, I had a sense of accomplishment and security that I had something under my belt, something I can do the rest of my life."

— Truck Mechanics Student