Court appoints Cohn to ensure West Contra Costa Unified hires qualified teachers

Carl Cohn, a former superintendent and state Board of Education member, will serve in the role of special master to ensure West Contra Costa Unified hires qualified teachers for its classrooms.

In March, a two-year court battle between the school district and a public advocacy law firm ended with a ruling from the California First District Court of Appeal requiring the district to provide all children in the district with a qualified teacher as required by state law.

Specifically, the court ordered the school district to stop using 30- and 60-day substitutes to fill positions beyond the state authorized time limit, and to fill all teacher vacancies at Stege Elementary School, Helms Middle School and Kennedy High School.

The West Contra Costa Superior Court appointment on Aug. 27 means Cohn will make recommendations to West Contra Costa Unified on how to best comply with the court order, and will mediate and resolve disputes over its compliance

The case, Cleare v. West Contra Costa Unified School District, was the first time a school district had been sued under the Williams Settlement Legislation, a 2004 agreement requiring that all public school students have access to adequate textbooks, qualified teachers and safe, clean facilities. 

The ruling overturns a 2024 decision by the Contra Costa County Superior Court that found in favor of the school district.

This story was originally published by EdSource.