Group alleges district failed to disclose legally-required data
An activist group has filed suit against the Oakland Unified School District alleging that it has failed to disclose legally-required data, including per-pupil spending figures, for each school through a so-called "school accountability report card." San Francisco-based Public Advocates Inc. says the suit is the first of its kind and was filed on behalf of parents and the public. The group says its suit coincides with the release of an investigative report revealing that many other school districts statewide are failing to comply with various requirements of the school accountability report card, or SARC for short. Oakland schools spokesman Troy Flint admits the district didn't fully comply with SARC for several years. But he says the district has made a good faith effort to comply with the mandate in the last seven months and has completed 90% of the necessary data. It also has kept Public Advocates apprised of its progress, he says. "We were surprised and disappointed to learn of the lawsuit because we thought Public Advocates was our partner and we're close to being fully compliant," he says. "It seems that this lawsuit was designed to attract publicity rather than to achieve compliance with SARC disclosure requirements." Guillermo Mayer, a staff attorney with Public Advocates, says, "While the failure of the Oakland schools to comply with SARC obligations for the past two years is particularly egregious, they are not alone. This year's report shows that many districts are failing to publish essential school site data, such as per-pupil expenditures and average teacher salaries, and translate the SARC into additional languages as required by law. It appears that, unless their feet are held to the fire, some districts will continue to ignore the law." The group says eight other school districts are also being warned of possible legal action if they fail to fully comply with their SARC obligations at the beginning of the upcoming school year.
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[Editor’s Note: The complaint alleges violation of the relevant state education code provisions. An example of the demand letters warning the other California districts of impending litigation is below, and the others also are available on the Public Advocates website. The group’s investigative report also is below.]
[Demand letter to Alameda City]
[Public Advocates report]