The Williams, et al., vs. State of California, et al. (Williams) case was filed as a class action in 2000. The basis of the lawsuit was that the agencies failed to provide public school students with equal access to instructional materials, safe and decent school facilities, and qualified teachers.

The case was settled in 2004, resulting in the allocation of $138 million in funding for standards-aligned instructional materials for schools in the first and second deciles as determined through the 2003 Academic Performance Index (API) Base. The settlement includes another $50 million for implementation costs for schools in deciles one through three. These two amounts were included in the state budget.

Another $800 million will be provided for critical repair of facilities in future years for schools in deciles one through three. The settlement was implemented through legislation adopted in August 2004: Senate Bill (SB) 6, SB 550, Assembly Bill (AB) 1550, AB 2727, AB 3001.

As a result of the Williams case, California Department of Education changed the School Accountability Report Card to help all schools report the overall condition of their facilities, the number of teacher misassignments, and the availability of textbooks or instructional materials.

The following links provide complete details about the Williams Lawsuit Settlement and resources for implementation if you feel there are violations.

Williams Uniform Complaint Procedure

Williams Uniform Complaint Form (English) (Spanish)