Complaint Procedures

If you have a complaint regarding any federal program or if you suspect waste, fraud, abuse or corruption, please contact Ginger Harper, Director of Federal Programs, in writing at 288 Tom Reeve Drive, Carrollton, Georgia, 30117, or by email at ginger.harper@carrolltoncityschools.net to access detailed information on how to proceed.    

Any individual, organization, or agency may file a complaint with the Carrollton City school system if that individual, organization or agency believes and alleges that the district is violating a federal law or regulation that applies to a program under the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA). The complaint must allege a violation that occurred not more than one (1) year prior to the date received the complaint unless a longer period is reasonable because the violation is considered ongoing.

As part of its Assurances within ESEA program grant applications and pursuant to Section 9306 within the Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), an LEA accepting federal funds also agrees to adopt local written procedures for the receipt and resolution of complaints alleging violations of law in the administration of covered programs.  Therefore, for complaints originating at the local level, a complaint should not be filed with the GaDOE until every effort has been made to resolve the issue through local written complaint procedures.  If the complainant has tried to file a complaint at the local level to no avail, the complainant must provide the GaDOE with written proof of their attempt to resolve the issue with Carrollton City Schools.

Complaints and claims will be handled and resolved as close to their source as possible and through the proper channels using the following procedures. A complaint must be in writing and signed by the applicant. The complaint must include:
• A statement that schools in the city of Carrollton have violated a requirement of a Federal statute or regulation that applies to an applicable program;        
• The date the violation occurred;
• The facts on which the statement and the specific requirements that allegedly violated is based;
• A list of names and phone numbers of people who can provide additional information;
• If a complaint has been filed with any other government agency, and if so, which agency;
• Copies of all applicable documents supporting the complainant's position; and
• The address of the claimant.

1. Once claims or complaints are received, the Director of Federal Programs or designee will issue a receipt to the complainant containing the following information: The date the complaint was received;
• How the complainant may provide additional information;
• A statement of the ways in which the coordinator of federal programs can investigate
or address the complaint; and
• Any other relevant information  2. The decision of the Director of Federal Programs may be appealed to the Superintendent in writing.
3. The Superintendent's decision may be appealed to the Carrollton City Schools Board of Education in writing.
4. All decisions and resources must be submitted in writing.
5. Complaints will be monitored by the appropriate federal program coordinator to maintain documentation of written complaints and other supporting information.
6. Reports will be maintained with complaint letters and final decisions. 

If the complaint can not be resolved locally, the plaintiff is entitled to seek review of the decision by the Georgia Department of Education. The appeal must be accompanied by a copy of the superintendent's decision and include a full statement of the reasons supporting the appeal.
The complaint may be filed online at http://programcomplaint.doe.k12.ga.us/everestwebportal/webform.asp