A message regarding a recent lawsuit against the California Department of Education (CDE) was posted on Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) website last week, as advised by the CDE.
The suit is a result of a previous suit filed against the CDE in 2012 by the Morgan Hill Concerned Parent Association and the Concerned Parents Association, alleging widespread noncompliance with special education laws. As part of the recent lawsuit, the CDE has been ordered by the court to release all data it has collected on general and special education students since Jan. 1, 2008.
The message on SMMUSD websites informs students and parents that the district was not involved in the lawsuit and is not subject to any of the suit’s allegations, but parents and students over the age of 18 are still encouraged to file an objection for the court to consider not releasing their data if they see fit.
Last Wednesday, Feb. 17, SMMUSD spokesperson Gail Pinsker sent out a release by the CDE explaining State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson’s position on public privacy and urging parents and eligible students to submit objection letters. The release also states that, alternatively, eligible members can write confidential letters to the judge.
“We have fought vigorously to protect students’ privacy rights and will continue that fight,” Torlakson said in the release.
For more information regarding the lawsuit and filing an objection, visit cde.ca.gov/morganhillcase.