The state says the school district has refused to follow state law and is asking the courts to force the district to follow the law.
Credit: KFMB
EL CAJON, Calif. — The California Department of Education is asking a judge to force Cajon Valley Union School District to follow state laws and recognize LGBTQ+ in the district's sex education curricula.
The Department of Education filed the writ of mandate on February 26 against the East San Diego County school district, nearly a year after a state investigation deemed the district's current sexual health curriculum discriminatory towards LGBTQ+ students.
According to the writ of mandate, Cajon Valley's curriculum "did not contain information recognizing that people have different sexual orientations, information regarding same-sex relationships, or information about gender, gender expression, and gender identity, including the harm of negative gender stereotypes, as required by California law."
The state's filing added, "A review of 'The Cajon Valley Union School District 7th and 8th Grade Sexual Health Curriculum' shows that the curriculum did not contain activities and discussion opportunities recognizing people's different sexual orientations, nor visual representation or discussion opportunities regarding same-sex relationships."
The state launched its investigation into Cajon Valley following a citizen complaint about the board's refusal to include LGBTQ+ in its curriculum.
"This board is politically motivated with their own interest, bias, and hate for a class of people protected by law," reads a January 5, 2024, letter to the California Department of Education.
The debate over what the district includes in its sexual health curriculum has occurred for more than two years.
In February 2023, district board members criticized the state's Positive Prevention Plus curriculum. During several board meetings, trustees asked administrators whether certain content could be "lifted" or "changed," but administrators said it could not.
In March 2024, the Cajon Valley School Board adopted its own sexual health curriculum, calling it "The Cajon Valley Union School District 7th and 8th Grade Sexual Health Curriculum."
On February 21, 2025, Cajon Valley superintendent David Miyashiro wrote to the Department of Education with a detailed timeline of the district's debate over what to include in its sexual health curricula.
Superintendent Miyashiro wrote to the state, "We have encountered obvious obstacles, as detailed below, and we welcome your guidance and feedback. "
In his letter, Miyashiro said district administrators tried to get the board to revise the curriculum to comply with state laws. At a January 31, 2025, meeting, board members voted against including LGBTQ+ in its curriculum.
That vote has resulted in the state filing legal action to force compliance.
State Assemblymember Chris Ward represents the 78th District, which covers central San Diego and east into El Cajon.
Assemblymember Ward is proud of the work he and other state lawmakers have done to protect all students.
"We have advocated to make sure that LGBT healthcare and LGBT issues are minimally included because it is an important part as high schoolers are learning about the world around them," said Ward in a February 27 interview.
"A lot of our LGBTQ youth have a lot higher rates of suicide, depression, mental health issues, the bullying that goes on. We are trying to correct these things by ensuring minimum standards across all California schools to protect all students."
Assemblymember Ward says the refusal by some districts only adds to the challenges that so many students, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, face.
"Not just LGBTQ students, but also a lot of others in the school community get wrapped up in this chaos and the discord that is generated because some school board members want to go in a different direction," said Ward.
Cajon Valley Union School District did not respond to requests for comment about the lawsuit.