Overview

The Williams v. State of California suit arised in May of 2000 when 97 students from 46 different elementary, junior high, and high schools in California filed a suit against the state of California to force the state to face the appalling conditions of many of its public schools. The plaintiffs argue that the State is failing to provide thousands of public school students, particularly those in low-income communities and communities of color, with the bare minimum necessities required for an education, such as textbooks, trained teachers, and safe and clean facilities. The State's failure to provide these bare minimum necessities to all public school students in California violates the state constitution, as well as state and federal requirements that all students be given equal access to public education without regard to race, color, or national origin. Specifically, the lawsuit seeks to remedy the following school conditions:

• Lack of instructional materials and basic resources
  
• Inadequate instruction
  
• Massive overcrowding
  
• Inadequate, unsafe, and unhealthful facilities

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