T.K. Butt v. California

Facing mounting financial deficits, the Richmond Unified School District (defendant) announced it would end the school year six weeks early, and parents including Thomas Butt (plaintiffs) sued the district and the State of California (defendant), alleging the unplanned closure violated students' constitutional right to an effective education and discriminated against them relative to other California students; teachers submitted declarations that the shortened year would prevent completion of instruction and grading necessary for academic promotion, graduation, and college admission. The trial court granted an injunction against the early closure, and the defendants appealed directly to the California Supreme Court.