Guiding Hands School Statement 1/11/19

The California Department of Education’s (CDE) Revocation of Guiding

Hands School’s (GHS) Certification is subjective, premature and
incomplete. Law enforcement has not yet released any investigative
findings, including the autopsy report. We continue to give the
authorities our full cooperation.
We are pleased that the temporary stay of revocation has been
granted. In a courtroom of 50+ GHS students, parents and staff, the
Court found that the CDE violated its statutory duties as set forth in the
California Education Code. Specifically, the CDE has failed to complete
its investigation, has failed to submit an investigation report and failed
to permit a reasonable timeline for GHS to respond to the investigation.
The action of revoking GHS certification without providing any basis or
investigative findings deprived GHS of its due process.
It is in the best interest of our students with special needs for the
school to remain open at least through the end of the school year.
Oftentimes, our school is the only stable and secure learning
environment these students have.
Guiding Hands is a school of caring and compassionate people
dedicating their lives to the education, safety and care of children with
special needs and those who are behaviorally challenged. The staff
uses this compassion when students are acting in a manner which may
pose a risk to other students, staff and/or themselves.
Guiding Hands uses “Handle with Care,” a nationally recognized and
CDE-approved behavior management program for students with special
needs and disabilities. Handle with Care seeks to use positive
reinforcement and de-escalation techniques at all times and, as is
sometimes necessary, the least restrictive behavior management to
protect students and staff, if required.
For more than 25 years Guiding Hands has an unblemished record with
the CDE and just last year was commended by the CDE, noting its
behavior management program.
We will continue to appeal the CDE’s decision once the investigation is
complete and the investigation findings have been provided to us.
The safety and security of our students, staff and teachers remain our
highest priorities. Our hearts are heavy over the loss of a member of
our school community and our thoughts remain with his family.
(Court Orders Attached)