Settlement Information

After a period of notice of settlement to the plaintiff class and an opportunity for the class to comment on the settlement, the Court approved the settlement agreement at a hearing on March 23, 2005.

Williams Settlement Highlights - April 2005

Statutes Implementing the Settlement

• SB 550
• AB 2727
• AB 1550
• AB 3001
• SB 6

Amendments to the Settlement Legislation

• How the 2009 Budget Bills Affect Williams Implementation (July 29, 2009)
• AB 607
• How AB 607 Affects Williams Implementation (October 16, 2006)
• SB 512
• SB 687
• AB 491
• How SB 512, SB 687, and AB 491 Affect Williams Implementation (October 11, 2005)
• AB 831
• How AB 831 Affects Williams Implementation (July 26, 2005)

Schools Affected by the Settlement

All public schools in California are affected by the settlement. For example, every school district must now provide a uniform complaint process for complaints regarding insufficient instructional materials, unsafe or unhealthy facility conditions, and teacher vacancies and misassignments. In addition, schools ranked in deciles one through three on the 2006 Base Academic Performance Index (API) receive additional funds and oversight.

Court Documents re Settlement

• Notice of Settlement (attaching the parties' Settlement Agreement documents) (3.3 MB)
  • Settlement Implementation Agreement (1.8 MB)
    (also included in above 3.3 MB PDF)
  • Covenant Not to Sue (117 KB)
    (also included in above 3.3 MB PDF)
  • Provision as to Claims for Attorneys' Fees (51 KB)
    (also included in above 3.3 MB PDF)
• Plaintiffs' Motion for Final Approval of Settlement Agreement (148 KB)
  • Memorandum in Support (2.2 MB)
  • Declaration of Jack W. Londen in Support (with exhibits) (8.8 MB)
• Superior Court's Order Regarding Approval of Settlement Notice and Schedule (526 KB)
• Notice of Support by Defendants SPI, State Department of Education, and SBE for Plaintiffs' Motion for Final Approval of Settlement (283 KB)
• Plaintiffs' Reply Memo in Support of Motion for Final Approval of Settlement (907 KB)
• Supplemental Declaration of Jack W. Londen in Support (with exhibit) (431 KB)

Press Releases

Announcement of Proposed Settlement

• ACLU Press Release, 8/13/04
• Public Advocates Press Release, 8/13/04
• Office of the Governors Press Release, 8/13/04

Governor Signs Legislation Implementing the Settlement

• Office of the Governor's Press Release, 9/29/04, Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Landmark Education Reforms

Notice of Settlement to Plaintiff Class

• Plaintiffs' Press Release, 12/16/04

News Articles

• Big Win for Run-Down Schools Brings Hope
  Landmark Accord Still Must Be OKd by Judge in S.F.
  San Francisco Chronicle, 8/12/04
• Landmark Deal Reached for State's Poor Schools
  1 Million Low-Income Students to Get Equal Access to Good Facilities and Textbooks
  San Francisco Chronicle, 8/11/04