Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) was named as a defendant in a lawsuit that the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) recently filed. The plaintiffs assert that the district has policies that show significant biases against students in a vulnerable population who attend charter schools in the area. The plaintiffs allege that certain policies limiting charter co-locations violate education law and prevent many students from achieving their full potential academically.
The existing policies limit school choice for parents who choose LAUSD public charter schools to accommodate their children’s needs. There is no guarantee that the locations available to their students will have the programs they need to thrive. Even if another location has a needed program, a student might be prohibited from attending the charter school due to current location policies.
Was the education law about voting violated?
The CCSA claims that a policy was established in February of this year. However, evidence suggests that education law voting rules may have been violated, making the vote invalid. A second vote took place the following month, and the policy passed again. A district representative who supports the policies noted that the restrictions prevent overcrowding, which can be detrimental to the learning atmosphere.
Those who support the CCSA’s lawsuit say that removing more than 300 co-locations merely makes matters worse and denies many students access to programs they need, such as computer labs and art or music rooms. The policies largely affect low-income families and students of color. There may be parents in other California school districts experiencing similar education law problems, in which case, it may benefit them to seek legal support from an attorney who is knowledgeable about Proposition 39 and other education laws.