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Tustin Unified School District is located in Tustin, California. The district has 28 total schools in operation with an enrollment of over 23,500 students.

The district has been caught teaching Critical Race Theory after claiming for many months that they were NOT teaching CRT. After a parent learned that her child was given a “White Savior” assignment in class, they filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request using the key words, “Ethnic Studies.” Initially, the district denied teaching CRT, claiming that the “White Savior” assignment hadn’t been approved and was taught by a substitute teacher. However, after reading through the results of the FOIA, parents found that was untrue. 

In March of 2021, Gregory Franklin, Superintendent was caught approving the “white savior assignment.” In an internal email, Franklin said “ I took a look at the white savior assignment, I think it’s a good assignment in the ethnic studies course.” In another internal email sent by Allyson Damikolas, a school board member, Damikolas is seen attempting to soften language to prevent scrutiny from the “opposing parents group.” She also admits that the district Ethnic Studies course is related to CRT.

Updated – January 18, 2022