Southern California Preschool Settles English-Only Policy Allegations for $200,000.
A preschool in Southern California has agreed to pay $200,000 to settle allegations of enforcing an “English-only” policy at its two locations, including one in Escondido. The settlement was announced on Thursday by the California Civil Rights Department, a state agency responsible for enforcing civil rights laws related to discrimination.
The preschool, Leaps and Bounds, faced accusations of retaliating against a Spanish-speaking teacher’s aide. As part of the settlement, Leaps and Bounds will pay $35,000 to the aide who filed the complaint with the Civil Rights Department. Additionally, the preschool has agreed to abolish its English-only policies and to provide training for employees on state civil rights laws.
According to the Civil Rights Department, the English-only policy was applied at both the Escondido and Fontana locations. The aide, who worked in Fontana, claimed that staff and management prohibited her from speaking Spanish at work. After a colleague overheard her speaking Spanish, she was accused of gossiping.
In response, management required her to sign an agreement stating she could only speak Spanish when communicating with non-English-speaking parents. Subsequently, her work hours were significantly reduced. The Civil Rights Department indicated that the aide felt discriminated against because of her cultural background.
Kevin Kish, the director of the Civil Rights Department, commented on the situation, stating, “Educators deserve to feel celebrated for their heritage. Instead, Leaps and Bounds’ alleged language ban created a hostile work environment where staff felt unvalued and unwelcome. By eliminating this discriminatory policy, the school is demonstrating that it is possible to foster a culture of inclusion that benefits both staff and the communities they serve. Regardless of the language you speak or your background, you are welcome in California.”
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