Nearly a year ago, pro-bono lawyers from Los Angeles-based Public Counsel made national headlines by launching a landmark class-action lawsuit against Compton Unified School District in federal court in Los Angeles, arguing that the district had failed to address issues of childhood trauma that prevented students from receiving a quality education.
In September, a federal judge agreed with arguments filed on behalf of five students and three teachers in the school district and declared that students who have experienced traumatic events could be considered disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Public Counsel’s lawsuit is the first to use disability law to argue that schools must provide accommodations and resources to assist students dealing with the impact of adverse childhood experiences like violence, abuse and neglect.
Now, the conflict could be nearing a resolution.
A deadline of Monday, June 13, has been set for the parties involved in the lawsuit to reach a settlement through negotiations. According to the terms laid out by a judge, trauma experts identified by Public Counsel are working with Compton Unified School District (CUSD) administrators to create a plan for the district.
However, if no accord is achieved and the parties do not agree to file an extension, the lawsuit will resume.
Annie Hudson-Price, a lawyer with Public Counsel who has participated in the case, says her team is optimistic that they can reach an agreement with CUSD that would put into place trauma-sensitive practices that will help staff understand some of the traumas experienced by students.
To continue reading this article by Jeremy Loudenbach, go to: http://laschoolreport.com/comp...uit-near-resolution/
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