Los Angeles, CA: (Aug-12-07) A class action lawsuit was filed against the state in May 2000 by several civil rights organizations, alleging that tens of thousands of minority students were being denied an equal education when compared with their suburban counterparts. In a settlement reached, new standards and accountability systems, including a complaint process, has been made applicable to all public schools. All districts must perform self-evaluations to ensure compliance. The settlement holds the state responsible for ensuring compliance and provides $1 billion to accomplish goals set out in the agreement, which includes an $800 million emergency repair program. Further, districts are required to address textbook deficiencies no later than eight weeks after the start of school and the county office of education can request that the state purchase the books, with the costs deducted from the district.
Following the settlement, a report prepared by the ACLU Foundation of Southern California and Public Advocates showed that there was progress in all areas, although some counties and individual districts, such as Los Angeles Unified, still fell behind statewide averages. More children are receiving textbooks, school facilities are in better repair and more teachers have proper credentials. [
