March 12, 2026— At 17, Coachella Valley High senior Miliani Rodriguez is taking on the State of California — and she’s not asking for much, just a fair shot. As lead plaintiff in Rodriguez v. California, she’s challenging the state’s school modernization funding formula, which requires districts to cover 40% of costs before accessing state dollars. In wealthy communities, that’s doable. In agricultural communities like Thermal, where families are already stretched thin, it’s a wall. The result: crumbling classrooms, broken AC, leaking roofs, and black mold — while better-resourced districts collect state funds for upgrades. Miliani is asking a court to freeze $3 billion in school construction funds until the state fixes a formula that she argues is unconstitutional. The quality of a child’s education shouldn’t depend on their zip code.

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