<\/p>\n
California Attorney General Rob Bonta last week announced an agreement requiring Natomas Unified School District to revise policies after finding the district disproportionately disciplined Black students and students with disabilities.<\/p>\n
Sacramento Bee file<\/p>\n
Natomas Unified School District continues to face scrutiny over how it treats Black students and students with disabilities, as local and state investigators have raised concerns about the district\u2019s discipline practices and student protections.<\/p>\n
On Friday, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an agreement requiring the district to revise its discipline and student privacy policies after finding the district disproportionately disciplined Black students and students with disabilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnsuring all of California\u2019s children have a fair and equal opportunity at success in school is a top priority \u2014 and we\u2019re committed to taking action,\u201d Bonta said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy office conducted a thorough investigation of the Natomas Unified School District\u2019s policies and practices related to student privacy and discipline and worked cooperatively with the District to reach today\u2019s agreement.\u201d<\/p>\n
The announcement comes months after a Sacramento County grand jury raised similar concerns<\/a> about the district\u2019s special education program, saying Black students with disabilities faced more severe discipline.<\/p>\n In a September complaint, Bonta alleged that from 2018-19 through the first half of 2024-25, Black students received exclusionary punishments at about 4 times the rate of White students at the district. Students with disabilities made up about 14% of the district\u2019s enrollment, the complaint also said, but accounted for nearly a quarter of discipline referrals.<\/p>\n As part of the agreement, the district must revise its discipline policies, train staff on equitable discipline and review discipline outcomes annually by demographic group, reporting the results to the attorney general and school board.<\/p>\n Natomas Unified pushed back on Bonta\u2019s findings Tuesday, saying some of the reforms in the agreement were already underway and pointing to the district\u2019s diversity and student support programs.<\/p>\n \u201cThe challenges facing Natomas Unified are not unique to our District. Like many Districts, student needs are becoming more complex and the resources required to provide high-quality services continue to grow,\u201d Deidra Powell, a spokesperson for the district, wrote in a statement.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Department of Justice\u2019s alleged findings do not reflect the realities faced at Natomas Unified\u2026 The facts have never justified the DOJ\u2019s level of engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n
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