On Nov. 1, 2023, Vista Charter Public Schools (Vista) filed a lawsuit against the State Board of Education (SBE) challenging its decision to affirm the denial of its charter petition by Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) and the Los Angeles County Board of Education […]
Author: Dana Scott
California Attorney General files complaint for injunctive and declaratory relief against Chino Valley USD
On Aug. 28, 2023, California Attorney General Rob Bonta filed a complaint in California Superior Court, San Bernardino County, requesting a declaration that Chino Valley Unified School District’s new policy, Policy 5020.1, is unconstitutional under the California Constitution and/or state law. The complaint also asks […]
Court rules in favor of district in student privacy case
On July 10, Judge John A. Mendez of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California issued a decision in favor of Chico Unified School District in the case of Regino v. Staley, which involves a parent’s challenge to a school district […]
Court of Appeal issues opinion in favor of Alameda USD parcel tax
On Aug. 3, the Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District of California issued its opinion in the case of Traiman v. Alameda Unified School District, reversing the lower court’s decision and validating the tax levied by the school district. The case relates to […]
Supreme Court sets new standard for employers to provide religious accommodations
On June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Groff v. DeJoy, which relates to religious accommodations under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. Title VII prohibits employment discrimination based on, among other protected categories, religion. The law imposes an obligation […]
Court upholds Political Reform Act amendments under SB 1439
Senate Bill 1439 became effective on Jan. 1, 2023. The bill amended the Political Reform Act (PRA), approved by the voters in 1974, by eliminating an exception to the prohibition on “pay-to play” campaign contribution that applied to local elected officials. Because the exception was […]
Legal update: State officials weigh in on removal of library books and instructional materials from school settings
On June 1, 2023, Gov. Gavin Newsom, Attorney General Rob Bonta and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond issued a joint letter related to book bans and the legal standards that guide decisions related to limiting instructional materials and resources available in school libraries. […]
Legal update: Davis v. Fresno Unified School District ruling
On April 27, the California Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in the case of Davis v. Fresno Unified School District. The case relates to a 2012 lease-leaseback construction agreement used by Fresno Unified School District to construct a new $36.7 million middle school. The […]
Biden Administration issues new proposed Title IX rule related to transgender students in sports
On April 6, the Biden Administration issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to Title IX applicable to the “narrow category of athletic eligibility criteria.” Specifically, the rule, which covers 115 pages, aims to regulate sex-related eligibility criteria that affects a student’s ability to play on […]
Attorney General issues opinion regarding school board vacancies
On Oct. 27, 2022, the California Attorney General issued an opinion addressing the question posed by Assemblymember Marc Berman of “how to fill a [board] vacancy when the incumbent was elected under an old districting system, but a new districting system will apply to the […]