National civil rights firm May Jung Law announced a settlement today with Orange Unified School District (OUSD), addressing alleged constitutional violations in student discipline practices. The case, brought on behalf of a Latino-Korean teenage boy, argued that OUSD’s disciplinary measures were not only unjust but disproportionately targeted Black and Brown students, disciplining them at rates two to three times higher than their white peers.
The settlement mandates significant changes to OUSD’s “Student Success Panel” (SSP), a system used for suspensions and transfers but previously lacking in transparency and formal guidelines. Now, the district will implement clear, written procedures for the SSP, allowing families to review case materials, present evidence, and appeal decisions. The district will also provide alternative education during the SSP process and ensure translation services when necessary.
“We aimed to create systemic change to protect marginalized students,” said Jessica H. Meeder, Senior Counsel at May Jung. “This settlement sends a clear message that constitutional compliance is not optional, and we expect these reforms will foster a fairer disciplinary system within OUSD.”