California Attorney General Reaches Agreement with Natomas Unified School District

On October 2, 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced an agreement with the Natomas Unified School District to address unlawful policies and practices related to student privacy and school discipline. A complaint was filed in the Sacramento County Superior Court alongside a stipulated judgment following a comprehensive investigation by the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Children’s Justice. The investigation revealed violations of federal and state laws regarding student privacy, anti-discrimination, and school suspensions.

The Department of Justice began its investigation in January 2023 under Government Code section 11180 et seq. Investigators reviewed thousands of pages of documents, examined years of discipline data, conducted site visits, and interviewed community members and stakeholders. The probe concluded that the district violated student privacy by releasing confidential education records to third parties without required parental consent. Additionally, the review found that discipline policies and practices discriminated against Black students and students with disabilities by overrepresenting them in discipline referrals and harsher exclusionary punishments such as out-of-school suspensions or expulsion, without a legitimate educational purpose.

Unlawful Suspensions and Investigation Findings

Investigators also discovered that Natomas Unified issued out-of-school suspensions for classroom disruption or willful defiance, including cases involving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. Under California Education Code section 48900, subdivision (k), schools are prohibited from suspending any student in kindergarten through 12th grade for disruption or willful defiance. Although the district proactively began implementing changes, the formal agreement establishes a multi-year monitoring term to ensure proper compliance.

Agreement Terms and District Reforms

Under the stipulated judgment, Natomas Unified is enjoined from violating laws and regulations and must designate a district coordinator to oversee implementation. The required reforms include:

• Reviewing and revising student discipline and record confidentiality policies and procedures.
• Engaging a Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports technical assistance provider to improve school climate and reduce behavioral incidents.
• Conducting annual reviews of all exclusionary outcomes following a referral for expulsion.
• Providing yearly staff training on student discipline and confidentiality of education records.
• Providing parents and guardians annual information sessions regarding fair and equitable discipline.
• Creating a dedicated Student Privacy section on the district website.

What This Means for Students and Families

Parents, guardians, and students will see revised district policies designed to protect confidential education records and ensure fair treatment. Families can look forward to annual information sessions hosted by the district and access a new Student Privacy section on the website. Schools must also halt improper suspensions for willful defiance or disruption across kindergarten through 12th grade and work with specialists to adopt evidence-based positive behavioral supports.

If a parent or guardian believes a student’s privacy rights have been violated or that a child has faced unlawful disciplinary action, consulting an attorney can help clarify individual legal options and ensure local educational agencies follow applicable state and federal laws.

This article is general information based on California Attorney General and court or agency records available at publication time. It is not legal advice; laws and deadlines differ by state and by case. Published October 3, 2026.