A class action suit against the state filed on behalf of students attending schools with substandard learning conditions has been settled out of court with money allocated for that purpose in the education budget for 2004-05.
The plaintiffs of Williams v. California argued that it was the state's constitutional duty to ensure that all public school students have equal access to the basic educational tools they need to learn. The plaintiffs asked for qualified teachers for every student, clean, safe school facilities, up-to-date textbooks in core subjects, and an end to the shortened school calendar used in some of the most crowded schools.
The settlement provides $138 million for standards-aligned instructional materials in all core subject areas (math, English/language arts, science, and history/social studies) at schools in the lowest deciles, and another $50 million for implementation costs and other oversight-related activities. Additionally, up to $800 million will be provided for critical repair of facilities in future years.
In addition to financial elements, the agreement includes:
- Phasing out shortened school years.
- Guaranteeing that students get standards-aligned instructional materials no later than the fourth week of the school year.
- Increasing district accountability through data collection and public reporting on textbooks and facilities.
- Requiring intervention by county superintendents or other state entities if districts do not meet the established benchmarks.
"This doesn't solve all the problems students face, nor does it address all the needs of schools," says CTA President Barbara E. Kerr. "But it's a small step forward."
In announcing the agreement, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the parties involved in the suit "have all shown great determination and leadership in fighting for a better education for all of California's students."