COURT RULES THAT LAWSUIT CAN MOVE FORWARD ON BEHALF OF LATINO, BLACK STUDENTS FACING DISCRIMINATION IN KERN COUNTY

BAKERSFIELD, CA – A California District Court of Appeal panel has refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by a coalition of civil rights groups against Kern High School District (KHSD) over disciplinary policies that unlawfully target African American and Latino students. The court summarily denied KHSD’s extraordinary writ request to revisit the trial court’s denial of dismissal.

MALDEF HONORS CONTRIBUTIONS OF THREE INDIVIDUALS IN ADVANCING LATINO COMMUNITY

SAN ANTONIO, TX – On Friday, September 9, 2016, MALDEF, the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization, hosted its 2016 San Antonio Gala and honored the remarkable work and achievements of three influential leaders in advancing the Latino community. The annual event took place at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel in San Antonio, Texas. San Antonio’s Univision41 anchor Antonio Sánchez served as Master of Ceremonies. MALDEF President and General Counsel, Thomas A. Saenz, delivered remarks highlighting the current challenges and opportunities Latinos face in the effort to secure greater equality.

MALDEF SUPPORTS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS TO ENSURE SCHOOL FUNDING GETS TO STUDENTS IT IS SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT

WASHINGTON, DC – MALDEF supports the U.S. Department of Education’s proposed regulation on school funding, released yesterday. The regulation would implement a school finance provision known as “supplement not supplant” in the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, reauthorized in December 2015 as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

FEDERAL COURT CLEARS THE WAY FOR MALDEF’S VOTING RIGHTS LAWSUIT AGAINST PASADENA, TEXAS TO MOVE TO TRIAL

HOUSTON, TX – A federal judge today ruled that a lawsuit challenging changes to the City of Pasadena’s voting system will head to trial. U.S. District Court Judge Lee H. Rosenthal’s decision comes nearly two years after MALDEF first sued Pasadena on behalf of five Hispanic residents when city officials moved to replace the eight single-member voting districts with a hybrid system that includes two at-large seats. The lawsuit argues the new system seeks to dilute Hispanic voting strength.