A federal judge refused Monday to take jurisdiction of a lawsuit filed by a parents advocacy group, which claims that Los Angeles Unified illegally suspended its operation and seized control of federal money set aside for its use.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Margaret Morrow involves a suit filed in December by the District Compensatory Education Advisory Committee. DAC is an elected group that represents the parents of tens of thousands of impoverished students for which Los Angeles Unified receives Title I federal funding.
The DAC lawsuit contends the district is legally bound to honor an April 2006 Parent Involvement Policy, which outlines the group's rights and responsibilities in advising on Title I programs. It also claims the policy is a condition for LAUSD to receive about $450 million annually in federal funds.
Last summer, however, after several contentious meetings involving DAC members and district officials,