DOJ finds Redlands Unified largely compliant, cites investigation delays

REDLANDS, Calif. — The California Department of Justice found Redlands Unified School District substantially compliant with nearly all requirements of a court-ordered judgment stemming from a state investigation into the district's handling of sexual harassment, abuse and discrimination complaints, according to a newly released annual compliance report.

The attorney general's office reported that the district achieved substantial compliance with all applicable provisions of the judgment during the second year of a five-year oversight period, except one: the timely investigation and resolution of complaints.

The report provides the latest assessment of reforms required under a June 2024 stipulated judgment between the state and Redlands Unified following a Department of Justice investigation into the district's historical response to reports of sexual harassment, assault, abuse and discrimination.

The findings show significant progress compared with the first year of oversight, when the district was found substantially compliant with 61 of 63 monitored provisions.

Progress under oversight

According to the report, the district continued comprehensive staff training on sexual harassment prevention and investigations, Title IX requirements, complaint tracking procedures and legal obligations related to students with disabilities. The state also found the district provided required training to students and families and maintained public access to nondiscrimination and harassment policies.

The report highlighted improvements in school climate survey. In fall 2025, 92.1% of surveyed students said they somewhat or strongly agreed with the statement "I feel safe at school," up from 88.3% the previous year. The percentage of students who strongly agreed increased from 33.1% to 43%.

The district also maintained compliance with child abuse reporting requirements, implemented required policies, conducted audits and continued operating a centralized electronic complaint tracking system monitored by the attorney general's office.

Investigation timelines remain a concern

However, the state determined the district remains in partial compliance with one section of the judgment because of delays in resolving some complaints. The report found that approximately 21% of resolved sexual harassment, assault or abuse cases were completed outside required timelines and lacked extension documentation required by state law and district policy.

The attorney general's office reviewed documentation for 880 resolved complaints during the reporting period, including 366 involving allegations of sexual harassment, assault or abuse. The report said the district implemented all corrective actions requested by the state, including providing missing documentation, improving student supports and correcting investigative procedures.

As of May 21, the district had 107 unresolved complaints involving sexual harassment, assault or abuse. According to the report, six exceeded the 60-day deadline without written extensions, although three involved situations where the district had unsuccessfully attempted multiple times to contact complainants. None of the six overdue cases involved staff-to-student allegations.

The report also noted approximately 14 cases involving potential conflicts of interest that were referred to an independent investigator approved by the attorney general's office. Two of those cases involved allegations of sex-based discrimination or harassment and exceeded required timelines.

State reviewers identified additional concerns that supportive measures for students were not always maintained when students transferred between schools and that some newly appointed principals were not consistently reviewing employee files. The district subsequently streamlined record keeping processes and committed to additional principal training.

District cites continued improvement

In a June 4 letter to the school community, Superintendent Juan Cabral said "Redlands Unified School District has again been found to be overall 'Substantially Compliant,' the highest possible rating," and credited district staff and the compliance team for strengthening investigative processes and accountability systems.

Cabral acknowledged the report's findings regarding delayed investigations and said the district remains committed to addressing those issues.

"The District remains committed to meeting its obligations under the Judgment and will continue to work in good faith with the DOJ to achieve and maintain full compliance," Cabral wrote.

Cabral said the district's priorities for the coming year include ensuring complaints are addressed promptly and thoroughly, improving consistency in how policies are implemented across schools, continuing staff training and using data, student feedback and community input to guide improvements.

The attorney general's office concluded that the district's progress during the second year of oversight was significant and said it anticipates Redlands Unified could achieve substantial compliance with all provisions during the upcoming school year if current improvement efforts continue.

The district's response to the judgment has also carried financial costs. During budget discussions earlier this year, district officials said the compliance office created to meet oversight requirements now includes a director and seven staff members and represents an ongoing expense amid broader budget challenges.