DATE: November 18, 2025
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Paul Nerland, County Administrative Officer
Michele Cantwell-Copher, Ed.D., Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
SUBJECT: 2025 Annual Williams Lawsuit Agreement Report
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
Accept the 2025 Annual Williams Lawsuit Agreement Report from the Fresno County Office of Education.
REPORT
As part of the Williams Lawsuit Agreement of 2004, California Education Code Section 1240 requires that the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools visit schools identified in Fresno County and report to your Board the results of the visits at a regularly scheduled November Board meeting.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
There are no alternative actions.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in Net County Cost associated with the recommended action.
DISCUSSION:
As part of the Williams Lawsuit Agreement of 2004, California Education Code Section 1240 requires that the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools visit schools within Fresno County and report the result to your Board. This annual report concerns the visits to 120 Fresno County schools from August through September 2025, as well as a review of the School Accountability Report Cards for the 2023-24 school year.
The purpose of the visits, as specified in Education Code section 1240 was to:
1. Ensure students have access to “sufficient” instructional materials in four core subject areas (English language arts, mathematics, history/social science, science) and, as appropriate, science laboratory equipment, foreign languages, and health;
2. Assess compliance with facility maintenance to identify conditions that “pose an emergency or urgent threat to the health or safety of pupils or staff” and ensure facilities are in good repair; and
3. Determine if the school has provided accurate data for the annual School Accountability Report Card related to instructional materials and facilities maintenance.
Education Code section 60119 defines “sufficient” instructional materials as meaning that every pupil, including English learners, have textbooks in the four core areas for classroom use and to take home. Facilities standards specify that each school district that receives state funding for facilities maintenance is required to establish a facilities inspection program and ensure that each school is maintained in good repair, which is defined as maintaining schools that are clean, safe, and functional. The School Accountability Report Cards are updated to report the information required by the Williams Lawsuit Settlement Agreement.
REFERENCE MATERIAL:
BAI #35, November 5, 2024
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Annual Letter and Report
CAO ANALYST:
Ronald Alexander