The Temecula Unified School District just got hit with a major setback — they can’t enforce their ban on critical race theory (CRT) anymore as the case makes its way through the courts. A California Court of Appeals made the ruling on Monday, making it the first time in California that a court has overturned a district’s attempt to silence students learning about racial and LGBTQ+ equity. Amanda Mangaser Savage of the Sullivan & Cromwell Strategic Litigation Counsel at Public Counsel broke the news.

Amelia Piazza, a lawyer with Public Counsel’s Opportunity Under Law project, emphasized the significance of the ruling for all of California. She stated, “This ruling binds all of California, and, I think is an important signal to school districts all over the state that this type of censorship, the courts aren’t going to tolerate it — and that students shouldn’t be deprived of a fact-based education now for any reason, and certainly not because it conflicts with the ideological positions of school board members.” The decision is part of an ongoing lawsuit called Mae M. v. Komrosky, which was filed in August 2024 on behalf of the district’s teachers union, teachers, parents, and students. The lawsuit argues that the ban on critical race theory implemented in December 2022 has created a hostile environment at schools, restricted teachers, and violated students’ rights to equal protection and access to information.

According to Monday’s opinion, the district’s policy is considered “unconstitutionally vague” and has caused anxiety among teachers who are still unclear about the rules and afraid of facing consequences even for accidental slip-ups. On the flip side, supporters of the district’s stance claim that they are not discriminating against students of color or transgender students. Nicole Velasco, a spokesperson for Advocates For Faith & Freedom, a law firm representing the district pro bono, expressed their belief that critical race theory and its derivatives don’t belong in public institutions that should cater to everyone equally. She stated, “These ideas promote division, resentment, and a distorted view of history that punishes students and staff based on skin color rather than character.” Despite being disappointed with the court’s decision, Velasco remains confident in the legality of Temecula Valley Unified School District’s actions and the strength of their case moving forward.