October 23, 2025—Desert Sun Reporter Jennifer Cortez covered Public Advocates’ landmark lawsuit challenging California’s discriminatory school facility funding system, featuring lead plaintiff Miliani Rodriguez, a 17-year-old senior at Coachella Valley High School. Rodriguez joined education advocates at the courthouse in Oakland to announce the suit seeking to overhaul the state’s funding system for upgrading school facilities.

“The truth is the buildings where we learn do not reflect the talent, creativity and potential of the students who live inside,” said Rodriguez, describing sweltering classrooms above 85 degrees, rain seeping through ceilings, broken tiles, and rats nesting overhead. “This is not the kind of environment that inspires learning.”

John Affeldt, managing attorney at Public Advocates, called the current system “separate and unequal,” noting that since 1998, the lowest-wealth quartile of districts have received nearly 60% less in state modernization funding than the wealthiest quartile. “Many students learn in climate-controlled comfort and present at college-like performing arts centers, while others in low-wealth districts suffer in stifling classrooms and endure leaky roofs, black mold and gopher holes.”

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