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Parents in Adelanto, Calif. and their pro-bono legal team from Kirkland & Ellis achieved a critical victory in their ongoing mission to transform Desert Trails Elementary School under their historic Parent Trigger petition, when Judge Vander Feer of the Superior Court of San Bernardino County ordered the Adelanto School District (District) to immediately comply with Judge Malone’s original order validating their Parent Trigger petition and ordering that the parents could immediately establish an independent charter school by the start of the 2013 school year.

Doreen Diaz, lead petitioner and organizer of the Desert Trails Parent Trigger movement commented, “We are thrilled with the judge’s ruling today and despite the District’s efforts, we continue to move forward with the charter school process and will vote next Thursday, October 18, on a non-profit charter school operator for the 2013-2014 school year.

Ben Austin, Executive Director of Parent Revolution remarked: “We are pleased with the judge’s ruling. The Court has both upheld both Judge Malone’s original order and blocked the District’s ongoing obstructionist tactics. Despite the District’s obstacles, the parents will continue to move forward with the charter school process.”

Mark Holscher, pro bono attorney for Kirkland & Ellis, commented: “The District refused to comply with Judge Malone’s order. Judge Vander Feer made it clear that the Court will not tolerate the District’s attempts to ignore court orders. This ruling paves the way for our clients to secure their fundamental right to a quality education for their children.”