Los Angeles - A UC Irvine junior studying in France, and hundreds of her current and future classmates, can now participate in demonstrations abroad without risking disciplinary action.

The University of California has clarified that its study abroad policy does not bar students from participating in political demonstrations while abroad after a student raised concerns that the policy violated the First Amendment.

After citing an interest in activism in her application essay, Kathlyn Henderson, a 21-year-old English major at the University of California at Irvine, was sternly warned before she departed for her junior year in Lyon, France that she was not allowed to protest or participate in any political events while abroad. A university official told her she could be subject to disciplinary action if she violated the policy.

Fearing the school would rescind her invitation to study abroad she did not protest the email. But while in France she learned many students had similar experiences and were forced to lie about their activities in order to comply with the UC system's blanket policy on demonstrations, which prompted her to seek help from the ACLU. ACLU staff attorneys in turn sent a letter to UC asserting the policy violated the First Amendment and threatening legal action if the policy was not changed.

"I chose to study abroad in order to expose myself to another culture and to experience a perspective other than my own," said Kathyln Henderson, who just started her second semester in France. "Whether political protest is part of that experience is a decision that I should make, I don't believe it is or should ever be the University's decision."

The new policy makes clear that there is no wholesale ban on participation in protests, but specifies that students may not engage in illegal actions. It also advises students to check local laws as they may differ by country, and to leave any demonstration that turns violent and dangerous.

"We were particularly concerned that Kathlyn was threatened with disciplinary action if she engaged in activities that are clearly protected under the First Amendment," said ACLU staff attorney Ahilan T. Arulanantham. "The new policy leaves more room for students to explore all aspects of life in a foreign country, including political life."

LOS ANGELES - Students returning to school today will see a difference in their classrooms.

Starting Jan.1 all California public schools must post notices informing students and their parents of certain basic requirements to which they must have access like materials and a clean and safe classroom, and the notice must tell parents and students where to find complaint forms if these standards are not being met.

"This is such a relief," said Martha Sanchez, a parent of three students at 28th Street Elementary School in Los Angeles. "Now there is a process that we can follow to make schools better and be sure my daughter has a good teacher and homework every night. Parents have never had a clear way to make any improvements in our schools."

The notices are a product of the historic education class action lawsuit Williams v. California, originally filed in May of 2000 by the ACLU, the law firm of Morrison & Foerster, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), Public Advocates, Inc. and other groups. Under Senate Bill 550, schools now must establish a uniform complaint process that will help identify and resolve problems and help ensure students have a better environment in which to learn.

"Until now California has never been accountable to its students for registering and remedying complaints about serious problems in the classroom," said Catherine Lhamon, a staff attorney for the ACLU of Southern California. "This is one of the first steps toward making positive changes to our public schools."

Students and parents can file complaints, in person or anonymously, about school deficiencies with their school principal and principals must fix valid complaints within 30 days. If not satisfied with the resolution, the student, parent or teacher may file an appeal to the school board or even the district superintendent, or for facilities problems directly to the state Allocation Board. School districts will provide public summaries of all complaints and their resolutions quarterly.

The Williams lawsuit charged the state with reneging on its constitutional obligation to provide students with the bare essentials necessary for education. The settlement takes steps toward assuring they have qualified teachers and it holds schools accountable for delivering these fundamental elements to students. It provides nearly $1 billion to accomplish these goals.

More information is available at www.decentschools.com.

LOS ANGELES - The American Civil Liberties Union and the State of California reached a settlement agreement in the class action education lawsuit Williams v. California in August 2004. The Williams lawsuit was originally filed in May 2000 by the ACLU, the law firm of Morrison & Foerster, the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Public Advocates, Inc., and other groups on behalf of California students who attended substandard schools in California, and charged the state with reneging on its constitutional obligation to provide students with the bare essentials necessary for education: sufficient instructional materials, adequate learning facilities, qualified teachers, etc.

All current and future California public school students can now find out more information about the settlement by calling 1-877-532-2533 (toll free, in English and Spanish) or visiting either www.aclusocal.org or www.decentschools.org. Information available to students and their parents includes a complete copy of the settlement agreement, the plaintiffs' notice of settlement, settlement legislation, and additional news releases.

The hearing for final approval of the settlement has been scheduled for 9:00 a.m., March 23, 2005 in San Francisco Superior Court: Judge Peter J. Busch, Dept. 210, 400 McAllister St., San Francisco, California 94102-4514. Class members who wish to object to the parties' settlement agreement should file written objections with the Court no later than Feb. 15, 2005, by mailing them to Judge Busch at the Court's address and a copy to the following address: The Williams Education Case, Morrison & Foerster, 425 Market St., San Francisco, California 94105-2482. Written objections should include the basis for each objection, as well as the objector's name, address, contact telephone number, and if applicable, e-mail address.

For more information please visit www.decentschools.org.