Summary of Notice

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Williams v. State of California is a statewide class action lawsuit about California's duty to provide every public school student with instructional materials, safe and decent school facilities, and qualified teachers. After four years of litigation, the parties in the case reached a Settlement Agreement on August 13, 2004. The Settlement Agreement provides for a package of legislative proposals designed to ensure that all students will have books in specified subjects and that their schools will be clean and in safe condition. The legislation also takes steps toward assuring that children have qualified teachers. The California legislature has already passed statutes implementing the settlement and the new laws will begin taking effect during the current school year. If the Court approves the settlement, some lawsuits brought over the next four years by students, parents, and teachers may be prohibited. San Francisco Superior Court Judge Peter J. Busch will decide whether to approve the settlement at a hearing in San Francisco on March 23, 2005 at 9 a.m. You may submit written comments to the Court regarding this settlement and you can appear in Court to testify at the hearing. You can find out more information about this class action and the March 23 court hearing and get a complete copy of plaintiffs' Notice of Settlement and other related documents at www.decentschools.org or by calling the toll-free information line at 877-532-2533.