Attorney General Bonta Announces Settlement with Natomas Unified School District to Address Policies and Practices Relating to Student Privacy and Discrimination of Black Students and Students with Disabilities

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta today announced an agreement with the Natomas Unified School District (Natomas Unified) to address unlawful policies and practices related to student privacy and school discipline. The complaint, filed in the Sacramento County Superior Court, and the stipulated judgment follows a comprehensive investigation by the California Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Bureau of Children’s Justice. DOJ’s investigation revealed violations of federal and state laws, including violations of student privacy laws, anti-discrimination laws, and a state law that prohibits suspensions for willful defiance or classroom disruption. Natomas Unified proactively began implementing several changes to its policies, and DOJ worked cooperatively with Natomas Unified to enter into today’s agreement which includes a multi-year monitoring term, policy and procedure revisions, training, and the engagement of a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) technical assistance provider to assist Natomas Unified with implementation of PBIS, which is evidence-based and has been shown to improve school climate, reduce behavioral incidents, decrease disciplinary referrals and suspensions, and promote positive student outcomes.  

“Ensuring all of California’s children have a fair and equal opportunity at success in school is a top priority — and we’re committed to taking action. My office conducted a thorough investigation of the Natomas Unified School District’s policies and practices related to student privacy and discipline and worked cooperatively with the District to reach today’s agreement,” said Attorney General Bonta. “I look forward to our continued collaboration and am confident that Natomas Unified will continue to implement these reforms to ensure they are in compliance with the law and that every child has equal access to a quality public education.”  

In January 2023, DOJ began an investigation under Government Code section 11180 et seq. to determine whether Natomas Unified’s policies and practices relating to school discipline and student privacy complied with federal and state laws. As part of the investigation, DOJ reviewed thousands of pages of documents and years of discipline data, and DOJ conducted site visits and numerous interviews with stakeholders and community members. Upon conclusion of the investigation, DOJ determined that the District’s policies and practices resulted in: 

Violations of student privacy laws: The investigation revealed that Natomas Unified violated the law by releasing confidential student education records to third parties without the required consent from the students’ parents or guardians as required under California law. 

Discrimination against Black students and students with disabilities: After analyzing Natomas Unified’s 2018-19 to 2024-25 school year discipline data, DOJ found that its discipline policies and practices resulted in discrimination for Black students and students with disabilities. These protected student groups were substantially overrepresented among those referred for discipline and were also more likely to receive harsher consequences in the form of exclusionary punishment including out-of-school suspensions or expulsion. DOJ’s investigation concluded that Natomas Unified’s disciplinary policies and practices were not necessary for Natomas Unified to meet a legitimate educational purpose, as it had less discriminatory alternatives to address student conduct.  

Unlawful student suspensions: DOJ’s investigation found that during the period analyzed, Natomas Unified issued out-of-school suspensions for disruption or willful defiance, including in several cases to students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Education Code section 48900, subdivision (k) prohibits the suspension of any student in grades kindergarten through 12 for disruption or willful defiance. 

DOJ and Natomas Unified worked cooperatively on an extensive two-year plan memorialized in a stipulated judgment that enjoins Natomas Unified from violating laws and regulations, requires it to designate a District coordinator to oversee implementation of the stipulated judgment and requires, among other things, Natomas Unified to do the following:

• Review and revise its policies and procedures regarding student discipline and confidentiality of student education records. 
• Engage a PBIS technical assistance provider to assist Natomas Unified with its implementation of PBIS.
• Conduct annual reviews of all exclusionary outcomes following a referral for expulsion.
• Provide staff with yearly training on various topics relating to student discipline and confidentiality of education records.
• Provide parents and guardians annual information sessions on various topics, including Natomas Unified’s commitment to fair and equitable treatment of all students in the administration of discipline.
• Create a Student Privacy section on the Natomas Unified website.