Policy 5136 - Gangs and Gang Symbols
Series: 5000 - Students
Policy: 5136 - Gangs and Gang Symbols
Adopted: 06/02/1998
Last Revised: 05/03/2005 (technical revision)
Gangs and Gang Symbols
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.
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 many students become involved in gangs without understanding the consequences of gang membership. 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 are enforced consistently and that all students have access to counselors as needed. If a student exhibits signs of gang affiliation, staff shall so inform the parent/guardian.
The Board believes that gang-related apparel is hazardous to the health and safety of the school environment. When there is evidence of a gang presence in district schools that disrupts or threatens to disrupt school activities, the Superintendent or designee may establish reasonable dress code regulations prohibiting students from wearing gang-related apparel. In addition, individual schools may, in their school safety plans, prohibit gang-related apparel on school grounds.
Gang Symbols
The Board of Education believes that gang activity is dangerous and inimical to the health and safety of the students in the District. The Board desires to take appropriate action to keep District schools and students free from the threats or harmful influences of gangs or other groups which advocate drug use or disruptive behavior.
The Board of Education believes that the health and safety of students are in jeopardy when students wear or carry any clothing or symbol that denotes membership in such a group. The Board further believes that students wearing or carrying any clothing or symbol that denotes membership in such a group has detrimental effect on the academic atmosphere of the schools in that students are led to believe that drug use and/or disruptive behavior are condoned. Further, the wearing or carrying of any such clothing or symbol can disrupt the educational process or create a clear and present danger of such disruption.
Therefore, the wearing or carrying of any clothing or symbol that denotes gang activity is prohibited on school grounds and at school activities, both on and off campus.
Prohibited items of clothing or symbols include, but are not limited to, any item of clothing, jewelry, accessory, notebook or symbol which, by the nature of its color, design, arrangement, representation, trademark or any other attribute, denotes membership in a gang or any other group which advocates drug use or disruptive behavior.
This policy shall be applied by the principal as the need for it arises at individual school sites.
Rule 5136
Adopted: 06/02/1998
Last Revised: 09/25/2025
Last Reviewed: N/A
Prevention, Intervention, and Suppression Measures
The Superintendent or designee shall become informed of the gang history in the district and community, conduct assessments of current gang activity at the school sites, and document and follow up on gang-related incidents.
In order to discourage the influence of gangs, the following measures shall be implemented:
1. Any student suspected of gang affiliation based on the displaying of behavior, gestures, apparel or paraphernalia indicative of gang affiliation shall be referred to the principal or designee and the following actions taken, as appropriate:
a. The student’s parent/guardian shall be contacted and may be asked to meet with school staff in order to proactively address the concern and be included as part of the solution
b. The student may be sent home to change clothes if necessary
c. The student’s behaviors and progress in school shall be documented, including attendance and grades
d. Intervention techniques such as mentoring, academic support, and a system of wraparound support service shall be implemented to help the student disengage from gang involvement
e. Consistent and progressive discipline and accountability shall be implemented when appropriate and combined with positive support using conflict-resolution strategies and other restorative justice practices demonstrated to be effective with gang-involved youth
f. Students shall be offered help in rejecting gang associations, including possible referral to community-based gang suppression and prevention organizations
2. Any gang graffiti on school premises shall be removed, washed down or painted over as soon as discovered.
a. Graffiti shall be photographed before it is removed. These photographs shall be shared with local law enforcement authorities and used in future disciplinary or criminal action against the offenders. This information can also be used to determine whether a threat or incident is imminent.
3. Classroom and after-school programs at each school may include gang prevention lessons that are taught jointly by teachers, counselors, law enforcement, and/or other organizations that are knowledgeable about gang prevention and shall:
a. Provide social and emotional learning designed to enhance individual self-esteem, provide positive reinforcement for acceptable behavior, and foster interest in a variety of constructive activities
b. Explain the dangers of gang membership
c. Provide counseling for targeted at-risk students
d. Include lessons or role-playing workshops in nonviolent conflict resolution and gang avoidance skills, including communication skills, anti-bullying, anger management, acceptance, and mediation skills
e. Assign individual gang members to cooperative learning groups in which they may work toward common goals with students who are not members of their gang
f. Provide school-to-career instruction
g. Provide positive interaction with local law enforcement
4. Staff shall actively promote membership in authorized school clubs and student organizations which can provide students companionship, safety, and a sense of purpose and belonging, including:
a. Positive sports and cultural activities and affiliations with the local community.
b. Structured, goal-oriented community service projects.
Parent/Guardian and Community Outreach
The Superintendent or designee may offer gang prevention classes or counseling for parents/guardians which may address the following topics:
1. The reasons students join gangs
2. The dangers and consequences of gang membership
3. Warning signs which may indicate that students are at risk of becoming involved with gangs including the use of social media for gang communication and promotion
4. The nature of local gang apparel and graffiti
5. Effective parenting techniques and planning family time
6. Conflict resolution techniques
In addition, the Superintendent or designee may offer community programs that address the scope and nature of local gang problems and strategies by which each segment of the community may alleviate gang problems.
Legal References
Policy Reference Disclaimer:
These references are not intended to be part of the policy itself, nor do they indicate the basis or authority for the Board to enact this policy. Instead, they are provided as additional resources for those interested in the subject matter of the policy.
STATE
EDUCATION CODE
32280-32289.5 School safety plans
35183 Gang-related apparel
48907 Exercise of free expression; time, place, and manner rules and regulations
51264 Educational in-service training; CDE guidelines
51265 Gang violence and drug and alcohol abuse prevention in-service training
51266-51266.5 Model gang and substance abuse prevention curriculum
PENAL CODE
13826-13826.7 Gang violence suppression
186.22 Participation in criminal street gang
FEDERAL
UNITED STATES CODE
20 USC 7101-7122 Student Support and Academic Enrichment Grants
MANAGEMENT RESOURCES
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE PUBLICATION
The Appropriate and Effective Use of Security Technologies in U.S. Schools: A Guide for Schools and Law Enforcement Agencies, 1999
WEBSITES
CSBA District and County Office of Education Legal Services https://legalservices.csba.org/#