On May 25, 1989, a youth confined at the Northern Reception Center Clinic (NRCC) of the California Youth Authority (CYA) filed a class action lawsuit against the NRCC and the CYA pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983, the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA), the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. The class consisted of all current and future residents of the NRCC who are educationally handicapped and who are in need of special education and related services. At least 25% of the population at NRCC fell into this class. The class, represented by the Youth Law Center and private counsel, specifically alleged that defendants routinely failed to identify and assess special education needs and develop individual educational plans for youth confined at their facilities. Plaintiff sought declaratory and injunctive relief.

On February 15, 1990, the parties filed a stipulation and order with the United States District Court for the Eastern District of California. Defendants agreed to provide class members with free public education that included special education and related services. Related services included speech and hearing services, physical and occupational therapy, and psychological and counseling services. Defendants also agreed to implement policies and procedures to promptly identify and assess the educational needs of the youth confined at the NRCC facility and to develop and individual education program for all class members. The parties agreed that the settlement would be in effect for three years, and that monitors would evaluate defendants' compliance with the agreement.

On May 7, 1990, the district court (Judge Samuel P. King) entered a final judgment incorporating the terms of the stipulation and agreement. The court maintained jurisdiction to award attorneys fees and costs and to monitor and enforce the terms of the stipulation and order. The agreement continued to be extended until July 11, 2000, and the docket continued to May 21, 2001 with the settlement of attorneys' fees and costs approved and the case dismissed.

Emilee Baker - 05/18/2006


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