PUSD School Closures Discriminatory, Lawsuit Claims

January 7, 2023

In 2019, the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) in Pasadena, California closed three elementary schools with a large Latino enrollment, a decision that is now being challenged in a lawsuit by the parents of seven Latino students. The suit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court and supported by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a Latino civil rights organization, claims that the district's actions violated the students' right to an education, which is guaranteed by the state's constitution.

According to the lawsuit, the school closures caused harm to the students and their families.

According to the lawsuit, the school closures caused harm to the students and their families. Some of the students lost access to learning and special education programs at their previous schools, and experienced emotional distress, including depression, after the transfers. The suit also alleges that the district failed to take into account racial equity when deciding to close the schools, and that the closures had a disproportionate impact on Latino students.

PUSD has stated that the legal action is "meritless" and that the district is committed to creating an equitable school environment.

In its defense, PUSD has stated that the legal action is "meritless" and that the district is committed to creating an equitable school environment. The district also claims that the school closures did not disproportionately impact Latino students, and that it did not target Latino-majority schools for closure. However, data from the state department of education cited in the lawsuit shows that Franklin Elementary School was 76% Latino, Jefferson Elementary was 86% Latino, and Roosevelt Elementary was 88% Latino during the 2019-2020 school year.

The lawsuit is seeking a court order for PUSD to create a new and equitable school closure process that complies with state law. This case is of particular interest to parents in the district, as the outcome could have implications for school closures and the rights of students in the area.

During the fall of 2019, the school board debate on school closures drew community protests. The three schools that closed and the schools that received the influx of new students from those schools enrolled a majority of Latino students, according to the lawsuit. None of the closed schools were in the eastern part of the district, which has a higher percentage of white students. The district considered, but chose not to close two schools with declining enrollment that had a lower percentage of Latino students, the lawsuit alleges.

PUSD has 14,542 students based on the most recent attendance figures provided by the state, which are from the 2021-22 school year. This is a decrease from the 16,881 students in the 2017-18 school year. Overall, the school system is 57.8% Latino, 19.1% white, 10.5% Black, and 5.2% Asian. About 13.8% of students are learning English.

10 key takeaways

1. The parents of seven Latino elementary school students in the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) are suing the district for discrimination.

2. The lawsuit alleges that the district violated the students' right to an education by closing three elementary schools with a large Latino enrollment in 2019.

3. The Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), a Latino civil rights organization, is supporting the lawsuit.

4. The school closures caused harm to the students and their families, including the loss of access to learning and special education programs, and emotional distress.

5. The lawsuit claims that the district failed to take into account racial equity when deciding to close the schools, and that the closures had a disproportionate impact on Latino students.

6. PUSD has defended itself, stating that the legal action is "meritless" and that the district is committed to creating an equitable school environment.

7. The lawsuit is seeking a court order for PUSD to create a new and equitable school closure process that complies with state law.

8. The school closures were met with community protests during the fall of 2019.

9. The three closed schools and the schools that received the influx of students from those schools enrolled a majority of Latino students.

10. PUSD has 14,542 students, and is 57.8% Latino, 19.1% white, 10.5% Black, and 5.2% Asian. About 13.8% of students are learning English.

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If you are a parent facing similar issues of discrimination in your school district, it is important to protect the rights of your child and ensure that they receive a fair and equal education. Contact one of the education lawyers at educationlawyers.com to consult with an experienced education lawyer and discuss your options. Don't let discrimination stand in the way of your child's future. Contact Education Lawyers today.