Sacramento district to change discipline practices after state bias finding
California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an agreement with Natomas Unified School District after an investigation found that the Sacramento district punished Black students and students with disabilities at disproportionate rates. Under the deal, the district will change its discipline rules, provide equity training for staff, and examine discipline data each year by student group before reporting the findings.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta disclosed a settlement with Natomas Unified School District. The action followed a state review that determined the Sacramento district's disciplinary outcomes fell unevenly on Black learners and those with disabilities.
The pact calls for altered disciplinary policies, equity instruction for employees, and yearly review of discipline figures by student demographic, with those results reported.
Students in the district, particularly Black students and students with disabilities, could be affected by changes to disciplinary policies and staff training. If the annual data reviews reveal persistent disparities, they may shape future policy adjustments. The agreement's broader social impact may depend on whether other districts adopt similar measures and whether the changes reduce unequal discipline outcomes over time.