CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS FILE ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT AGAINST KERN HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT AND KERN COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
Complaint Filed with California Department of Education Alleges Illegal School Funding Allocations of Over 6 Million Dollars
SACRAMENTO, CA - A group of civil rights advocates including California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc., Equal Justice Society, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inc., and the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) today filed an administrative complaint with the California Department of Education ("State") demanding that it directly intervene and investigate the illegal school funding allocations of over 6 million dollars by the Kern High School District ("Kern District") and Kern County Office of Education ("Kern County").
The complaint, filed on behalf of students, parents, and community members interested in ensuring equitable spending of public education funds, alleges that the Kern District unlawfully allocated millions of dollars intended for low-income students, English learners, and foster youth for district-wide purposes. The expenditures include $2.4 million for school police and over $4 million for general human resources. The complaint also alleges that Kern County failed to take appropriate action, as mandated by law, to prevent the unlawful expenditures.
Due to the immediate need to prevent unlawful expenditures, the complaint requests direct intervention and investigation from the State. The groups warn that the State has until September 3, 2014 to adequately respond.
Founded in 1968, MALDEF is the nation's leading Latino legal civil rights organization. Often described as the "Latino Legal Voice for Civil Rights in America" MALDEF promotes social change through advocacy, communications, community education and litigation in the areas of education, employment, immigrant rights and political access. For more information on MALDEF, please visit: www.maldef.org.
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