Escondido Union High School District v. Aloy
3:24-cv-01653
| S.D. Cal. | Feb 13, 2025Background
- The Escondido Union High School District filed a lawsuit seeking reversal of a decision made by California’s Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH), involving a minor's rights under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
- The case contains sensitive information concerning a minor student, including medical, psychological, and educational records.
- Both the District and the parents (on behalf of C.A., the minor) jointly moved to file the entire OAH administrative record under seal to protect privacy.
- The administrative record contains over 2,000 pages filled with personally identifiable information protected by federal (FERPA) and state law.
- The matter before the court was whether to allow these documents to be filed under seal, rather than made available to the public.
- The Court issued its decision on February 13, 2025, through Judge Robert S. Huie.
Issues
| Issue | Plaintiff's Argument | Defendant's Argument | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sealing of the administrative record | Sealing needed to protect student privacy under FERPA and state law; redaction impractical | Sealing needed to protect student privacy under FERPA and state law; redaction impractical | Motion to seal granted |
Key Cases Cited
- Kamakana v. City & Cnty. of Honolulu, 447 F.3d 1172 (9th Cir. 2006) (establishes the 'compelling reasons' standard for sealing judicial records)