Post Type
Media Advisory: Hearing to Stop Illegal Teacher Assignments in WCCUSD Postponed
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2025
Contact: Sumeet Bal, Director of Communications, [email protected], 917.647.1952
MEDIA ADVISORY
Hearing to Stop Illegal Teacher Assignments in WCCUSD Postponed
SAN FRANCISCO — On Tuesday February 25, 2025, the Contra Costa Superior Court postponed a hearing where lawyers from Public Advocates and Munger, Tolles & Olson were to appear to request the court correct its error in October that allowed West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) to continue to illegally staff classrooms with uncertified teachers. The new hearing will be set by the court for a later date.
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Media Advisory: Civil Rights Law Firm Begins New Trial to Stop Illegal Teacher Assignments in WCCUSD
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 21, 2025
Contact: Sumeet Bal, Director of Communications, [email protected], 917.647.1952
MEDIA ADVISORY
Civil Rights Law Firm Begins New Trial to Stop Illegal Teacher Assignments in WCCUSD
State leaders, educators and union reps highlight issues with previous court decision which allows unqualified individuals to continue to lead classrooms, failing low-income, African American students, and multilingual learners in West Contra Costa Unified School District
SAN FRANCISCO — On Wednesday February 26, 2025, Public Advocates and Munger, Tolles & Olson will appear before the Contra Costa Superior Court to request it correct its error in October that allowed West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) to continue to illegally staff classrooms with uncertified teachers.
Who: John Affeldt, Managing Attorney, Public Advocates
Karissa Provenza, Staff Attorney, Public Advocates
Munger, Tolles & Olson legal team
What: Plaintiffs Attorneys will urge the court to enforce the law under the Williams v. California settlement and ensure state requirements for certified, permanent classroom teachers are followed, particularly in classrooms with lower-income students, African American students, and multilingual learners.
When: Wednesday February 26, 2024 at 9am.
Where: Contra Costa Superior Court, Martinez-Wakefield Taylor Courthouse Department 16: 725 Court Street, Martinez, CA 94553. Zoom Link, ID: 161 950 4895, Password: 812674.
Why: In January 2024, Public Advocates filed three Williams complaints against West Contra Costa Unified School District for illegally staffing classrooms with unlicensed teachers, primarily affecting schools serving low-income students, Black students, and multilingual learners. After the district failed to address these violations, Public Advocates and pro-bono counsel filed a lawsuit in summer 2024. Despite the district’s continued use of unqualified staff, the court declined to order WCCUSD to remedy these illegal practices in October. Public Advocates has now filed a Motion for a New Trial, seeking to correct this ruling and ensure all students have access to qualified, permanent teachers as required by law.
Key Developments:
- The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing’s Executive Director and Executive Director of the local teachers’ union have filed declarations supporting the petitioners’ argument
- WCCUSD recently involuntarily reassigned 19 fully-certified teachers to fill vacancies, after attempting to reassign 40 in December; these actions contradicted the district’s earlier court assertion that it could not undertake such reassignments
- The district has filed no opposition to the motion for a new trial or explained their silence
“Teachers are critical to a student’s life, and having the stability of a permanent and qualified teacher is directly related to student success. In no other occupation would we stand for an unlicensed individual to fill in as a licensed provider,” said Karissa Provenza, Staff Attorney for Public Advocates.
The case highlights a fundamental violation of the Williams v. California settlement, which established minimum requirements for qualified teachers 20 years ago. “It’s unprecedented for a district to be allowed to staff classrooms with uncertified individuals,” said John Affeldt, Managing Attorney at Public Advocates. “The district has repeatedly demonstrated that it has options to fill all its classrooms with qualified teachers but is refusing to do the hard work to get there.”
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Public Advocates Inc. is a nonprofit law firm and advocacy organization that challenges the systemic causes of poverty and racial discrimination by strengthening community voices in public policy and achieving tangible legal victories advancing education, housing, transportation equity and climate justice.